Lavender Orpingtons... BUT WHAT GENDER ARE THEY?

[djaousfarm]

I have 4 Lavender Orpingtons, and two have small combs and the other have a little larger combs.. they are all about the same size and I think they are 3-4 months old? I ordered 2 straight run, 1 female, and 1 male.



Please help



The one closest to the camera is one of the chickens that has a larger comb. Sorry, I know this isn't the best of pictures.

 

[microchick]

I would wager a guess that the one in the background and the one in the left foreground are pullets. The one with the slightly larger comb isn't screaming cockerel at me but my one and only LO was a pullet until she sprouted saddle feathers and started to crow. So time will tell.

Pretty trio.

 

[Alexandra33]

Welcome to BYC!

SO glad you joined us!

These are a little confusing for me, since my Lav boy developed a large, red comb EARLY. I'm almost leaning towards pullets at the current time, but a couple more weeks should tell us for sure.

Lovely birdies!

~Alex

 

[djaousfarm]

Thank you!
One is acting more protective and standing guard more so Im thinking he's a rooster, I just hope the other three are hens!!!!

 

[Alexandra33]

You're welcome! Those could definitely be signs of a cockerel, but one thing I've learned so far in my short time of keeping chickens is that you can't always put too much stock in behaviors.

I've had dominant, aggressive chicks who have turned out to be pullets, and shy, quiet ones who are young roos. Here's how my cockerel looked at about 6-7 weeks of age:

~Alex

 

[drumstick diva]

I think the one on the left (first photo) is a pullet - the right one (forward) and the one behind it are both developing wattles though not screaming roo but, I would keep an eye on them.

 

[drumstick diva]

Alexandra your cockerel is beautiful.

 

[djaousfarm]

I agree, that cockerel is beautiful.

 

[laura buchanan]

Alexandra,
How early did his comb develop?
I have 4 that are three 1/2 weeks, one comb is larger and the beak has hardly any black, unlike the other three that are almost all black any can barley see comb?
I know it's really early, but I ordered 5, 4 female, one male, but one died and I'm hoping it wasn't the roo.....