Is this lighter Sapphire Gem chick a Roo?

[PopoMyers]

Here's mine. Comb not as big as yours. I wonder, still.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Here's mine. Comb not as big as yours. I wonder, still.View attachment 3135692

Male, due to the barring. Wonder how the hatchery missed that.

 

[PopoMyers]

Male, due to the barring. Wonder how the hatchery missed that.

I got the 6 from Wilco. Lost one, and I'm sure the other 4 are pullets. He's still not attempting to crow yet, at almost 13 wks.

 

[About15chickens]

Here's mine. Comb not as big as yours. I wonder, still.View attachment 3135692

He's a cutie!
I agree with above, I'd say male with the barring. Maybe my guy is just an early bloomer with his comb and crowing.

Our guy came from TSC and was supposed to be a pullet.

 

[Painted Calls]

I got the 6 from Wilco. Lost one, and I'm sure the other 4 are pullets. He's still not attempting to crow yet, at almost 13 wks.

Do you have another cockerel or rooster? That could be one reason. Another could be that he's just not ready yet. Some don't crow until they're 20+ weeks.

He is without a doubt a male.

 

[PopoMyers]

Well, this strange noise I heard this morning was him. With avian flu and all, may not be able to re-home him immediately, and don't have the fortitude to cull him. I listed him, so we'll see. My neighbor have kids that scream louder and a barking dog, so maybe I could keep him. Not supposed to have one in this neighborhood.

 

[Cg1979]

Little rooster update.

There weren't supposed to be any roosters but we are happy to have him. So far out of our group of 15 pullets he looks like the only cockerel.

About 5 weeks
View attachment 3060598View attachment 3060599
Here is one of the girls for comparison.
View attachment 3060600


Around 6 weeks
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Thank you so much for posting these "growing up" pics!! I have a sapphire gem chick that I'm concerned may be a roo, but at 6 weeks "she" doesn't have anywhere near as red/developed comb or wattles as your Bill does. Mine is also from TSC and had no head spot that I noticed. It's the iridescent, pointy hackle feathers, which "she" likes to raise, that have me the most concerned. One of our other "pullets" from TSC, a Cinnamon Queen, turned out to be a cockerel and we only got 4 chicks... so if this one is a boy, too, then we're up to a 50% roo rate, and we will have to re-home this one like we did with Harry (who was originally named Hattie). We don't have space to keep enough hens to make a roo... satisfied. Anyway, seeing pics of how your chicks are growing is helpful and fun! Though, for me, it does not eliminate all my worry. I think I can only wait and see.

 

[Painted Calls]

Thank you so much for posting these "growing up" pics!! I have a sapphire gem chick that I'm concerned may be a roo, but at 6 weeks "she" doesn't have anywhere near as red/developed comb or wattles as your Bill does. Mine is also from TSC and had no head spot that I noticed. It's the iridescent, pointy hackle feathers, which "she" likes to raise, that have me the most concerned. One of our other "pullets" from TSC, a Cinnamon Queen, turned out to be a cockerel and we only got 4 chicks... so if this one is a boy, too, then we're up to a 50% roo rate, and we will have to re-home this one like we did with Harry (who was originally named Hattie). We don't have space to keep enough hens to make a roo... satisfied. Anyway, seeing pics of how your chicks are growing is helpful and fun! Though, for me, it does not eliminate all my worry. I think I can only wait and see.

Sapphire Gems are sex linked. If she isn't barred, she is a pullet. Temperament means nothing at 6 weeks. Same with feathers. They dint develop male specific feathers until around 12 weeks. The earliest I've seen them is 9 weeks.

 

[Cg1979]

Sapphire Gems are sex linked. If she isn't barred, she is a pullet. Temperament means nothing at 6 weeks. Same with feathers. They dint develop male specific feathers until around 12 weeks. The earliest I've seen them is 9 weeks.

Yes, but if the hatchery didn't breed them true, then the sex-linking wouldn't hold true, is my understanding (like, for example, if the chicks are second gen)... I'm brand new to chickens, but from what I've read on this forum and on Facebook, there's been a lot of error and confusion with this breed. And even for some people, the barred feathers aren't showing up until later. It's just so confusing and disheartening. Anyway, I sure hope you're right! Thanks so much for the reassurance.

 

[PopoMyers]

Thank you so much for posting these "growing up" pics!! I have a sapphire gem chick that I'm concerned may be a roo, but at 6 weeks "she" doesn't have anywhere near as red/developed comb or wattles as your Bill does. Mine is also from TSC and had no head spot that I noticed. It's the iridescent, pointy hackle feathers, which "she" likes to raise, that have me the most concerned. One of our other "pullets" from TSC, a Cinnamon Queen, turned out to be a cockerel and we only got 4 chicks... so if this one is a boy, too, then we're up to a 50% roo rate, and we will have to re-home this one like we did with Harry (who was originally named Hattie). We don't have space to keep enough hens to make a roo... satisfied. Anyway, seeing pics of how your chicks are growing is helpful and fun! Though, for me, it does not eliminate all my worry. I think I can only wait and see.

Mine were posturing early on, establishing pecking order...time will tell. Found out there is no code against roosters, just a limit of 12 poultry. See Chicken Math article, if you haven't already.