Lavender Orpingtons 5 Weeks

[RoosterML]

I was under the impression that when Lavender Orpingtons have the well defined tail that it was a male. With a hen having the little button tail. What has me confused is I have some that have a well defined comb and wattels but not tail. Also vice versa with a well defined tail but not comb or wattles. So what gives? I need some help figuring out what is what.

 

[RoosterML]

@mbrobbins what say you after all these are your fruit from my labor.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Too early to sex. And you can't use feather growth to sex as each individual will grow in differently.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

The different tail feathers don't really show until chickens are at least 3-4 months old. At 4 weeks old, it's a bit early to be certain, but comb and wattles growing and becoming red are signs of cockerels. Based on this I would guess 1 and 2 are male. 3 and 4 are females.

 

[RoosterML]

Too early to sex. And you can't use feather growth to sex as each individual will grow in differently.

I thought the Lavender Orpingtons were different.

 

[mbrobbins]

@mbrobbins what say you after all these are your fruit from my labor.

I have already sold four of my 5 wk old lavenders, I just visually sexed by the pinker combs and larger pink wattles, and my pullets have hardly any combs or wattles, and paler pink. (I picked out the ones with the biggest combs and wattles as cockerals, and now I'm counting about 5 more that I think are cockerals that I'll have to get rid of. This time I think I hatched more cockerals than pullets, but last year it was vice versa. I've got eggs in the bator with a new bloodline that I'm planning to keep a couple of cockerals back to go with the pullets that are 6 wks old now

 

[mbrobbins]

THey also seem to be taller than the pullets, but some have a ratty short tail , their tail gets prettier when they are about 7 months old