Lavender Orpington Gender Help

[Sprather88]

Orps are early combers, and that coupled with the scruffy feathers can be tricky. I agree with happy, the ones where you can see the head are ladies.

Thanks, I am going to retake in a couple of weeks and cross my fingers I have at least 2 or three that are girls! For the feathers, do you have any suggestions to help them come in better? I have a group of a few ISA browns whose feathers are fine with the dust bathing in the ground by their coop when they are free-ranging, but for these lavenders, it doesn't seem to be enough.

 

[black_cat]

Thanks, I am going to retake in a couple of weeks and cross my fingers I have at least 2 or three that are girls! For the feathers, do you have any suggestions to help them come in better? I have a group of a few ISA browns whose feathers are fine with the dust bathing in the ground by their coop when they are free-ranging, but for these lavenders, it doesn't seem to be enough.

lav orps often have a a gene that causes the feathers to be like that. I think that the feathers will always look like that, but maybe better as they stop growing and have their adult feathers.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

only two of mines combs are that big so maybe there is hope for one or two more? I am going to wait another two or three weeks then retake pictures and try to figure out what to do.

I would definitely wait until at least they're 12 weeks. I had a hard time sexing mine as well but my female (who now lives with my mom) is 17 weeks old and still has yet to grow a comb.

And my cockerel crowed for the first time around 12 weeks - that's usually an indication lol.y

 

[EMMomma]

only two of mines combs are that big so maybe there is hope for one or two more? I am going to wait another two or three weeks then retake pictures and try to figure out what to do.

What says roo is not so much the size of the comb as how red yours are already in the comb/face/wattles.
Good luck!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

only two of mines combs are that big so maybe there is hope for one or two more? I am going to wait another two or three weeks then retake pictures and try to figure out what to do.

You just don’t worry about their roosting too much either. They will get up their off the sand eventually. I think the chances that they might be more roosters is growing on me because so many have combs etc. my Orps did not have any combs till very late as I said and they are pullets.

 

[The Happster]

You just don’t worry about their roosting too much either. They will get up their off the sand eventually. I think the chances that they might be more roosters is growing on me because so many have combs etc. my Orps did not have any combs till very late as I said and they are pullets.

What colour variant were your Orps?


Orpingtons are a pretty fast combing breed. Lavender Orps are especially fast combing. And then each bird matures at a different rate.
Majority of those birds are definitely pullets.
It would be good if OP could get some more shots of the faces, from the side.