Need help with breed and sex if possible

[NatJ]

Here are a couple more pictures I have of them. Hopefully this will help? You all have been super helpful so far thank you!

How old are they? I'm still trying to decide if the black and white one is male or female, and knowing the age often helps.

 

[Fayeh89]

How old are they? I'm still trying to decide if the black and white one is male or female, and knowing the age often helps.

We got them from Atwoods I believe they were a couple of weeks old the week of mothers day

 

[Fayeh89]

Here are closer ups of them all.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Such pretty chickens! I agree with everyone else on breeds, and the black and white one looks like a definite cockerel.

 

[NatJ]

We got them from Atwoods I believe they were a couple of weeks old the week of mothers day

Then the black & white one is probably male as well, because I think they are too young for females to be getting combs that red. Females usually do not get red combs until they are almost ready to lay eggs.

 

[Fayeh89]

Then the black & white one is probably male as well, because I think they are too young for females to be getting combs that red. Females usually do not get red combs until they are almost ready to lay eggs.

This is what they looked like when we got them. The spotted one was older than the others. It's the bigger one of the babies.

 

[NatJ]

We got them from Atwoods I believe they were a couple of weeks old the week of mothers day

This is what they looked like when we got them. The spotted one was older than the others. It's the bigger one of the babies.

The youngest few of those are less than a week old, and even the oldest one looks less than 2 weeks old. So if that was a few days after Mother's Day, they should be about 15-17 weeks old now. (I found a calendar and actually counted it out.)

At that age, a pullet could be starting to get a red comb if she is from a breed that lays young. But slower pullets have a while to go yet.

I am sure of two males because of the male-specific saddle feathers. Those feathers are skinny, often shiny, and have a different texture. To my eyes, they often look "wet" even when I know they are completely dry-- they just don't match feathers on some other parts of the bird. They eventually grow long and hang down on both sides of the rooster (length somewhat variable betwen roosters and especially between breeds).

I keep looking to see if the black & white bird has those feathers, and I really cannot decide. It definitely has some pointy markings on the feathers, but I cannot make up my mind about the actual feather shape outside the markings.

So I'm still not entirely sure about that black & white one. It could be a fast-maturing pullet who will lay eggs within the next month or so, or it could be a slow-maturing cockerel who is taking a long time to grow his saddle feathers (much longer than the other two males took!)

Have you heard any of them crowing yet? If the black & white one crows, that would definitely settle the matter!

 

[Fayeh89]

The youngest few of those are less than a week old, and even the oldest one looks less than 2 weeks old. So if that was a few days after Mother's Day, they should be about 15-17 weeks old now. (I found a calendar and actually counted it out.)

At that age, a pullet could be starting to get a red comb if she is from a breed that lays young. But slower pullets have a while to go yet.

I am sure of two males because of the male-specific saddle feathers. Those feathers are skinny, often shiny, and have a different texture. To my eyes, they often look "wet" even when I know they are completely dry-- they just don't match feathers on some other parts of the bird. They eventually grow long and hang down on both sides of the rooster (length somewhat variable betwen roosters and especially between breeds).

I keep looking to see if the black & white bird has those feathers, and I really cannot decide. It definitely has some pointy markings on the feathers, but I cannot make up my mind about the actual feather shape outside the markings.

So I'm still not entirely sure about that black & white one. It could be a fast-maturing pullet who will lay eggs within the next month or so, or it could be a slow-maturing cockerel who is taking a long time to grow his saddle feathers (much longer than the other two males took!)

Have you heard any of them crowing yet? If the black & white one crows, that would definitely settle the matter!

That is what I keep waiting for, that's how we found out that our barred rock was a roo not a pullet. But I haven't heard anything except the same noises my hens make from them. Here are 2 other closer ups of the black and white one. I see what you mean by the wet looking feathers, I don't think I've seen that kind of feather on the black and white one.

 

[NatJ]

That is what I keep waiting for, that's how we found out that our barred rock was a roo not a pullet. But I haven't heard anything except the same noises my hens make from them. Here are 2 other closer ups of the black and white one. I see what you mean by the wet looking feathers, I don't think I've seen that kind of feather on the black and white one.

This may be one of those times when you just have to wait a while longer and see how it develops.

Chickens sure do like to keep us guessing!

 

[Fayeh89]

This may be one of those times when you just have to wait a while longer and see how it develops.

Chickens sure do like to keep us guessing!

Here is a picture from this morning. The feathers don't appear to be pointed, but rounded and the black markings make them look pointed. That one also doesn't have the same feather texture the red one has or the the other male, the wet looking feathers.