Newbie alert! Gold laced Orpington help please!

[Highforest]

Pullets or cock birds?? Very new to Orpingtons, these are 9 weeks old. Any guidance would be great thank-you x

 

[donrae]

Bird on the left looks like a pullet.
Bird on the right looks like a cockerel.

Bird in the middle......looks in the middle

. Can we get a better pic of it?

and how sure are you on age? They look older to me.....

 

[AustralorpsAU]

Bird on the left looks like a pullet.
Bird on the right looks like a cockerel.

Bird in the middle......looks in the middle

. Can we get a better pic of it?

and how sure are you on age? They look older to me.....

I agree. Need better pic of middle bird. Did you hatch them yourself?

 

[Highforest]

Hi yes hatched them my self from my own birds. Will double check age later but they have certainly done well! I've never hatched Orpingtons before and was expecting the cock birds to start getting hackle feathers by now? I've got them entered for a poultry auction so need to sex them correctly! Will attempt to get more pics today. Huge thanks

 

[drumstick diva]

OH keep the pullet on the left, she is beautiful and so nicely marked. I too agree the one on the right is a cockerel. Undecided about middle bird

 

[Highforest]

Hatched 9th August

 

[caw555]

Bird on the left looks like a pullet. 
Bird on the right looks like a cockerel. 

Bird in the middle......looks in the middle  . Can we get a better pic of it?

and how sure are you on age? They look older to me.....

Agreed!!!
Gold laced Orpington's are news to me. I really need to keep up with the breed's

 

[Highforest]

So pullet for this nicely marked one?? God I'm rubbish with these!!

 

[donrae]

9 weeks is too young for sex feathers, especially in a slower maturing breed like an Orpington.

What are your goals for these birds? Are you planning on keeping some for breeding stock, plan on keeping any males?

with a breed like this, slower to mature and laced to boot, I'd wait a bit before I culled anyone. Unless you seriously need the space, etc, I'd wait until around 6 months and see who has the best type and lacing.


Honestly, I'm torn on gender. I though that first bird was a definite pullet, but in the second set of pics I'm getting a cockerel vibe from all of them

 

[Highforest]

I've got them all entered for a rare breed auction on Saturday as they were just a project to be honest. I've got some younger birds as well which are going and they seem to be easier to sex being younger? Thank-you for your input I'm glad I'm not the only one a but confused!!