Mottled Houdans, boys or girls?

[Pent]

I'm figuring my Houdans are at least 11 weeks old. They are all about the same size. I was told I was getting a trio of m/f/f, but it wasn't a sure thing. Looking at them, one is without doubt a boy; he's getting some red bulgy bits under his beak where his wattles are coming in. The other two don't have that yet, but I'm noticing a red coloration under their fluffy hair crowns. I remember with EEs, red was bad before they start laying.

Sorry they're so dirty, its been wet lately and they can't seem to keep those 'dos out of the mud when pecking around

When I first got them they were still in some of their chick fluff, so a mistake is totally understandable. First up is one of the under suspect. See how the froofy hair is hiding all that red?



But the one I know is a boy looks way worse.


See that lil red bit under the beak? I'm on to you, mister.

Number three was hard to get a pic of, wanted to run off with the others.

The last one looks worse than it should; the stuff in the crest is making the feathers look more pointy than they are.

... they're all boys, aren't they.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Don't give up on them just yet! I have found Houdans to be the hardest breed to sex. I was convinced one of mine was a rooster for months, well until it laid an egg! Wait until you see clear saddles and hackle feathers growing, or a crow or an egg.

 

[Cyan Night]

I have no experience with this breed, but based on the redness I would say all roos. Though as the above poster said, I would hold onto them until they crow or lay. Best of luck!

 

[Pent]

I shall persevere. Perhaps I can try to keep just one, if they're boys. I shall call him Captain Jack Harkness, to fit the theme (EE Amelia Pond, Maran Martha Jones, and SLW Clara), and hope that my neighbors do not petition for a bylaw or zoning change.

 

[aoxa]

Oh they are so much harder to sex than I initially anticipated. My first trio was SO easy. I knew at 2 weeks old that gigi was a boy. The girls feathered out way differently on their heads. Unfortunately after raising a whole lot more this spring, girls sometimes feather out like that, and sometimes the boys feather out like girls.

I do find once their crests start to go crazy like your second in question - you have a boy for sure.




Here is my first male at 12 weeks. You see that hairdo? Yeah - girls don't get like that in my experience.


Here is a closeup of a girl at the same age.

I wouldn't write the first one you posted off as a boy yet because of the colour. All other signs point to girl.

 

[BantamLover21]

The second and third one do look like cockerels. The first one might be a cockerel, too, but I'm leaning more towards pullet. Don't give up yet, though--crested breeds can be hard to sex.

 

[Table4Six]

Aoxa, about your second pic do pullets get spurs???

And about the three Houdans the first is a pullet I think and the others are cockerels.

 

[Pent]

Houdans have an extra toe Makes them look kinda mutated, but totally normal.

 

[aoxa]

Houdans have an extra toe Makes them look kinda mutated, but totally normal.

Yes exactly They aren't the only breed with 5 toes either. Dorkings, Silkies, Sultans and Favorolles all have 5 toes.

 

[Table4Six]

Ok, now I get it.