OEGB Question

[KikiLeigh02]

I'm new to Old English Game bantams, my chicks are about 4 1/2 weeks right now. When do the cockerels usually start showing their combs? Or, when can you typically tell by coloring?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Around 8-14 weeks. You can post some pictures now and see if we can identify the cockerels. The chances are slim but we can try.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

None of them have combs yet, I'm pretty good with sexing chicks in person. Just curious when that particular breed might start to show.

 

[WVduckchick]

Some of the color varieties can be distinguished by 3-4 weeks -- for example with silver duckwings, the males will develop black chest feathers and the pullets will develop salmon colored chest feathers early on. Combs take a few more weeks.

Post some pics, we'll try to help.
I have some that are 4 weeks old today, I need to get pics of them.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I'll try to get some tonight, they're SO fast and fly so well it's hard to get a photo that isn't blurry. I'm not 100% certain they're a standard color, so it may not be helpful.

 

[WVduckchick]

Since mine are close in age to yours, and I'm pretty sure I can tell mine by color, I'll do some comparisons when I get home. I'm thinking the boys tails shoot out faster too, but I haven't raised a new group of them in a while and haven't paid that much attention. lol

 

[KikiLeigh02]

If that's the case I may have all boys! They were 2 1/2 weeks here.

 

[sourland]

Or maybe you have all pullets. It can vary from strain to strain, but most of my OEGB cockerels showed significant comb by 4.5 weeks and some were even crowing. As WV said some strains can be gender ID at that age by differences in male and female coloration. BBR being among the easiest.

 

[WVduckchick]

If that's the case I may have all boys! They were 2 1/2 weeks here.

Ok, so maybe that's not a good gage.

The one on the right in the last pic, with the very dark V on the head -- those are "usually" female signs, as well as eyeliner stripes, but you have some different color varieties, so I'm not sure about them all. Might be helpful to post on one of the OEGB threads. I remember someone doing some helpful chick color pics.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/show-off-your-old-english-game-bantams.311466/page-417

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Since mine are close in age to yours, and I'm pretty sure I can tell mine by color, I'll do some comparisons when I get home. I'm thinking the boys tails shoot out faster too, but I haven't raised a new group of them in a while and haven't paid that much attention. lol

Ok, so maybe that's not a good gage.

The one on the right in the last pic, with the very dark V on the head -- those are "usually" female signs, as well as eyeliner stripes, but you have some different color varieties, so I'm not sure about them all. Might be helpful to post on one of the OEGB threads. I remember someone doing some helpful chick color pics.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/show-off-your-old-english-game-bantams.311466/page-417

The only accurate way to sex chicks is by the comb, and male feathering.