Need Someone To Confirm This Is A Roo...

[SelfSufficient]

Thought we had 10 (3 RIR, 3, BA, 3 PB/CG, 1 Ameraucana) gals but this one has had me wondering for more than a few weeks. It's one of my Production Blacks. Its smaller than the other two, at first I attributed it to slow growth due to illness @ 3 days old. Since it has seemed more than healthy, just small. Then I started noticing her legs and beak and comb were more flesh colored whole the other two were yellow-orange.

Today I went to take some picks to show a friend and the wee one came up and posed for me. I see pink in the comb and red wattles (or an injury :/ ) on both sides of the mouth. So I'm almost certain I have a roo - but wanted some more expert opinions.

TIA

For the life of me I cannot figure out how to add a photo (from the iPad). I will try to move photos to the "real" computer and upload them from there in a bit.

In the meantime, any thoughts based on what I said...

PS - they are all 5 1/2 weeks old - hatched 2/9.

 

[spikennipper]

Based on what you have said I would say you have a roo, 5 1/2 weeks is far too early to be seeing any red in a pullet and if you have suspected for a few weeks too...

 

[SelfSufficient]

Okay, here (s)he is...

 

[donrae]

That is a little more comb than I'd expect, but really not much more than the other birds. Based on color, it's a hen. Production blacks are leghorn based, thus they may have more comb than the barred rocks, etc. The legs are thin, and dark. I'm leaning toward girl but would love to see pics in six weeks or so.

 

[SelfSufficient]

Her comb just started growing up in the past 48 hours. Before that it was just nubby while the other two had much more pronounced combs. Hers just seems pinker while the other two are orangey yellow - even their legs. And the droopy red around her mouth which no one else has yellow or otherwise.

 

[hdowden]

thats a cockerel

 

[aoxa]

Comb and wattles say cockerel, but everything else screams pullet. The feathering, the eyes (to me look girly), the legs are thin and dark.. I am not going to say it is a boy, and I am not going to say it's a girl. :/

 

[SelfSufficient]

So I've got a girly boy?!?!

I broke the potential news to DH - he was not excited about the chicken adventure but is now on board - and got a simple "if it makes lots of noise then it's outta here!". I'm hoping the coop is far enough away and positiond in such a way that noise won't be an issue.

I was hoping for all layers but the idea of a cockerel intrigues me - especially since I've read about the benefits if having one. also know some are better than others.

Guess we will see how this plays out...

 

[BlazeJester]

Since he's a production black (never heard of them, but that doesn't mean anything) and not a barred rock, barred rock rules don't apply. He can be a dark male, and he is. Pullets do NOT grow significant large, pink combs until they're in their "teens".

 

[ReikiStar]

Love that last picture! With as much comb as it has and the hint of wattles compared to the other chicks like it...I'm voting roo as well.