My chick pics successive weeks for gender guesses

[coopncottage]

I’ve taken photos at 3 and 5 weeks so far of my 7 chicks — New Hampshire Red, Easter Egger, Barnevelder, Olive Egger, Chocolate Orpington and 2 Isbars. All from Mount Healthy. All hatchery sexed as pullets. My guess at 5 weeks is anywhere from 1-3 cockerels, but I’ll be curious to see how close I am. I’ll post pics of successive weeks. Sorry about the 3-week photos… they were taken while on their first trip outside on an unusually warm Colorado day. We’ve had chickens for 15 years, but haven’t had babies in the brooder in a long time, so the guessing has been fun. Personality-wise, EE and New Hamp, friendly and sweet. Isbars very active. Isbar #1 and Orpington always chest bumping. Barnevelder and OE least friendly. Did not get a good photo of the OE at 3 weeks. Isbar 1, Choc Orp and Barnevelder slow to feather and still downy spots on wing bows at 6 weeks. I’ll post pics in separate threads.

 

[coopncottage]

3 week photos

 

[coopncottage]

5 week photos

 

[redinator]

I'm new to chickens in general, but based on the combs, the only ones I believe to be male are Isbar 1 and 2. If you could get pictures of wattles that can be helpful too.

I have a male chick that still has a small comb that darkened when it turned 8 weeks, but I would've never noticed if I didn't have earlier pics to compare, but his wattles gave him away at 8.5 weeks.

 

[NatJ]

All hatchery sexed as pullets. My guess at 5 weeks is anywhere from 1-3 cockerels

Based on the 5 week photos, I'm fairly confident that Isbar 1 is a cockerel.

I have suspicions about Isbar 2 and Chocolate Orpington, but would let them grow a while longer before being sure.

Since they are only 5 weeks, I would suspect all of them just on general principle (slow-maturing males can wait quite a while to become obvious.) But I do not see any specific reason to be worried about the other ones at this time, so hopefully the hatchery got the sexing right on them.

 

[coopncottage]

I'm new to chickens in general, but based on the combs, the only ones I believe to be male are Isbar 1 and 2. If you could get pictures of wattles that can be helpful too.

I have a male chick that still has a small comb that darkened when it turned 8 weeks, but I would've never noticed if I didn't have earlier pics to compare, but his wattles gave him away at 8.5 weeks.

I agree… Isbar 1 and the orpington both show early wattles that are fairly red. Isbar 2 seems iffy to me - still pretty pink comb, and no wattles yet. But I’ll be surprised if Isbar 1 and the orp aren’t cockerels.

 

[coopncottage]

Based on the 5 week photos, I'm fairly confident that Isbar 1 is a cockerel.

I have suspicions about Isbar 2 and Chocolate Orpington, but would let them grow a while longer before being sure.

Since they are only 5 weeks, I would suspect all of them just on general principle (slow-maturing males can wait quite a while to become obvious.) But I do not see any specific reason to be worried about the other ones at this time, so hopefully the hatchery got the sexing right on them.

Thanks! I agree… I’m still crossing my fingers for Isbar 2. The Barnevelder was very slow to feather and took forever to get a tail, so I was suspicious, but no wattles or comb yet and she looks like a pulley to me right now. Will update at 7 weeks with more pics of the suspects.

 

[coopncottage]

Chicks are 8 weeks and a few days old now. The two Isbars have red combs and wattles so… I only added one or two pics of them since I’m pretty sure their cover is blown, lol. I’m mostly wondering about the Barnevelder and Chocolate Orpington — said to be slow maturing. Both were slow to feather. The Barne still seems like she’s shaped like a hen. They are both the heaviest of all of them. And then I added a photo of my New Hampshire because she kept photobombing my pics. She’s my favorite—pretty sure she’s a pullet. So… what do you think of the Orpington and Barny? I’m thinking it’ll be awhile before I know.

 

[NatJ]

Chicks are 8 weeks and a few days old now. The two Isbars have red combs and wattles so… I only added one or two pics of them since I’m pretty sure their cover is blown, lol.

I think I agree with you about the Isbars.

I’m mostly wondering about the Barnevelder and Chocolate Orpington — said to be slow maturing. Both were slow to feather. The Barne still seems like she’s shaped like a hen. They are both the heaviest of all of them... what do you think of the Orpington and Barny? I’m thinking it’ll be awhile before I know.

I see why you are wondering about them. I feel like the wattles are awfully red for the Barnevelder and the Chocolate Orpington, but that might be something about my screen or the pictures rather than the actual chicken.

On the other hand, the Barnevelder has nice lacing in the breast. That appears to be much more common in females than in males. For example, the pictures on this page show males with just black breasts:
https://www.chickensforbackyards.com/product/barnevelder/
Then again, I see a male with a laced breast on this page:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...eks-for-gender-guesses.1659334/#post-28575646
(Second photo from the top, I think.)

And if the Barnevelder is probably female (by coloring), then any other chicken with similar comb & wattles might also be female (Chocolate Orpington?)

I would probably give those ones a bit longer and see how they develop.

All from Mount Healthy. All hatchery sexed as pullets.

Hmm, might be worth re-reading the sexing guarantee...
https://blog.mthealthy.com/the-mt-heathy-advantage-our-guarantees-and-polices/
Looks like they guarantee 90% accuracy in sexing, and you can report it any time after 12 weeks to get some kind of compensation. So they expect it to be obvious enough in anoher 4 weeks.