Male or female ancona?

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Yeah, there's no way he's more than five weeks old. But don't Mediterranean breed hens develop combs earlier than most? I must be in denial, LOL.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Yes...they do...but not that quickly and that red. You've got a chick around 5 weeks of age...those little Mediterranean roos take off about then...the hens aren't that fast to develop.

LofMc

 

[junebuggena]

Yeah, there's no way he's more than five weeks old. But don't Mediterranean breed hens develop combs earlier than most? I must be in denial, LOL.

Comb yes, redness no. It's the fact that that comb is too pink too early that says cockerel. Pullets don't start to pink up until they are getting close to being ready to lay eggs. Since this chick is still at least 4 months (if it were female) from laying eggs, the only logical conclusion is that it's a cockerel.

 

[drumstick diva]

x 2

 

[ftfarmer22]

Looks about 3 weeks old. I can tell he is a rooster because of the bright red comb, an pullets won't have that at all at so young. Pullets develop pink combs at around 6-8 weeks old, depending on the breed. Some breeds develop faster or slower than others. But he is most definitely a roo. I am so sorry that you won't be able to keep him

Crap! How can you tell? Landlady won't allow a rooster. How old do you think he is?

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Definitely older than three weeks. Probably 4-5. I've got a few others out of the seven with combs now too.

 

[ftfarmer22]

Definitely older than three weeks. Probably 4-5. I've got a few others out of the seven with combs now too.

Really? Usually at 3 weeks they are in the "feathered body, fluffy head" phase, like yours is. I agree with @Lady of McCamley and @junebuggena on the Mediterranean breed thing. Size of combs, yes they are bigger in size earlier, but with redness no. With all breeds, it's one thing to have a chick with a large comb, but it's another when they are bright red. Only cock's will have the red combs at this young of an age.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Really? Usually at 3 weeks they are in the "feathered body, fluffy head" phase, like yours is. I agree with @Lady of McCamley and @junebuggena on the Mediterranean breed thing. Size of combs, yes they are bigger in size earlier, but with redness no. With all breeds, it's one thing to have a chick with a large comb, but it's another when they are bright red. Only cock's will have the red combs at this young of an age.

Well, I purchased this little bugger and one other Ancona from the feed store on their shipment day, 3/11/16, but I think the Anconcas had been in the brooder there since a previous shipment day because they were already feathering more than the other breeds I got.

 

[ftfarmer22]

Well, I purchased this little bugger and one other Ancona from the feed store on their shipment day, 3/11/16, but I think the Anconcas had been in the brooder there since a previous shipment day because they were already feathering more than the other breeds I got.

Yeah, thats weird. The same thing happened to me when I purchased my chicks (2/6/16) at the feed store. When I got them them it was the day after shipment, so they were supposedly only a few days old, but they looked more like 5 days old at least... also I bought a "Buff Orpington", but it turned out to be a red sex link. And I also bought a "Brown Leghorn" chick, and it actually was a Speckled Sussex. The workers just don't know what they're doing lol.

 

[NatalieP]

I know this post is old... but could you share if that Ancona did turn out to be a roo?