no tail feathers mean a Cockerel?

[kada6305]

So I got 8 baby chicks, 7 are 9 days old and one is about 4 or 5 days old. ALL of them (even the 4 day old chick) have tail feathers except for one Speckled Sussex. They were straight run. is this an indication of a roo? Unlike some asking this question I am hoping for a Sussex roo here are some pictures



here you can see Dumpling ( sussex on end) and Omlete (red star) have tailfeathers started already while Pox (middle) has none..

Dumpling

dumpling

Sunny ( 4 days old) Dumpling and Pox

So what do you think?

 

[kazoo1111]

That doesn't insure that they're girls I've had ones like that that have turned out like roosters.

 

[kada6305]

here are updated pictures of the two SS's they are 15 days old and one is feathering in nicely while Pox still has no tail feathers...what do you think? might be a cockerel?


side view. Dumpling is feathering in nicely while Pox still doesn't have much.

Dumplings feathering

Back view

 

[Pele]

Roos do have a habit of feathering slower (especially in the tail). It's not an ironclad rule, but it's definitely a trend.

Yours also has roo posture. He's a little dude.

 

[kada6305]

Roos do have a habit of feathering slower (especially in the tail). It's not an ironclad rule, but it's definitely a trend.

Yours also has roo posture. He's a little dude.

Thats what I was thinking. He is always upright like that and kinda looks after his girls. he will actually throw treats at them it's so cute.

 

[Pele]

Thats what I was thinking. He is always upright like that and kinda looks after his girls. he will actually throw treats at them it's so cute.

Aw, it's so cute when roos put on their man-pants early. I had a little guy who crowed at 4 weeks old once. Nearly made me fall on my butt! lol.

 

[kada6305]

Aw, it's so cute when roos put on their man-pants early. I had a little guy who crowed at 4 weeks old once. Nearly made me fall on my butt! lol.

oh wow !! when do they usually start crowing? I know nothing about roosters LOL although I have been hoping and praying pox was a rooster. would love to have a rooster to watch over the girls while free ranging

 

[Pele]

oh wow !! when do they usually start crowing? I know nothing about roosters LOL although I have been hoping and praying pox was a rooster. would love to have a rooster to watch over the girls while free ranging

It varies from roo to roo, and can be affected by wether another dominant roo is around. Most of the boys I've had start feeling out their crowing abilities by 3 to 5 months. If you have a submissive roo that's trying to fly under the radar of a more dominant older roo, they can wait a year or more.

If I were to guess though, your little man is well on his way to being an early crower. Watch for him coming on high alert when you step into the room, that's the most likely time it'll startle out of him. Get ready to laugh, I never get over how pathetic the first tries are.

 

[kada6305]

It varies from roo to roo, and can be affected by wether another dominant roo is around. Most of the boys I've had start feeling out their crowing abilities by 3 to 5 months. If you have a submissive roo that's trying to fly under the radar of a more dominant older roo, they can wait a year or more.

If I were to guess though, your little man is well on his way to being an early crower. Watch for him coming on high alert when you step into the room, that's the most likely time it'll startle out of him. Get ready to laugh, I never get over how pathetic the first tries are.

haha if you mean alert by standing up tall and first to greet me? then your right lol. he's so lovable. But goodness forbid if i take him away from his girls! he goes not and wont shut up lol does a high pitch call and the girls call back for him its so darn cute !!! I'll prob laugh at the first attempt I know i still laugh at my ducks TRYING to quack lol

 

[kada6305]

well at 4 weeks pox is Finally showing some tail feathers ) here are some pictures of Dumpling (female) and Pox



Dumpling

Dumpling

dumpling

Pox

Pox

Pox

pox

you can see his tiny bit of tail feather, It's only a little bit, but it's something !