One of my RIR chicks has a much larger comb than the other, does this mean it's a roo?

[DoubleBoop]

Hey there, I bought 4 day old rir females and a male from a callahans general store near me. Unfortunately the roo died at 8 days old, from what apparently was salmonella pollorum, as he went through every single symptom. However, one of my "females" is colored much whiter than the others and has a much larger comb. Could the hatchery have made a mistake and put in a roo? Here's a picture of the one in question and the others. The one in the first picture is the only one with a defined comb, and it's comb is much redder than the others, more than the picture shows. It also has a much prettier pattern on it's fluff, if that matters lol. They are 2 weeks old today.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are a bit young, but it sure seems suspicious. Give it a few more weeks.

 

[DoubleBoop]

They are a big young, but it sure seems suspicious. Give it a few more weeks.

Ok. Yeah the comb is much redder and twice the size of all the others. My only other suspicion would be that it's not a RIR. The comb stands about 1/4" tall, which is hard to see in the pictures due to all the fluff blocking the bottom half of it, and if I touch it I can wiggle it back and forth. It's taller than the combs on my 6 week old ISA Browns. I'm really hoping for this one to be a rooster so of course I'm a bit bias, but I was going to get a rooster and a couple more hens to raise with him as soon as possible. I would have to give the hens to my girlfriends flock though as I'm at max capacity, so if this one turns out to be a roo that would be a huge relief.

Here's another picture

 

[Hybridchucks]

There are too young to tell now but this one is looking suspiciously male...

 

[DoubleBoop]

Sure hope so. I really dont have room for more than 12 hens, and assuming these are all female I'd have 12, but I really want to have a rooster to maintain the flock and I don't want him to have to be raised alone. My rooster that I got with these ones was sick and died so if this one happens to be a roo that would be amazing.

 

[DoubleBoop]

Is it just the comb or are there other signs to look for?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is it just the comb or are there other signs to look for?

Generally before 3-4 months you look to comb development, comb color, thickness of the legs, and general demeanor. If more than 2-3 of these items point towards a rooster than generally it is. Rooster feathering doesn't come in until they get their adult feathers at 4-6 months.

 

[DoubleBoop]

Would it mean anything if when this one is running, jumping, and playing with the others, it jumps and kicks both legs forward? It's the only one that does that, the others jump at each other face first. I'l try and get it on video in slomo sometime. It's legs are about the same size as the others but it's also the smallest bird too

 

[Mr Beaks]

It looks male to me but the only way to know for sure is to give it time. It's way too young to give an accurate assessment.

 

[DoubleBoop]

Dang it guys! I'm gonna bring this bird to a psychic if I have to! I want it to be a little roo so bad! lol

In all seriousness, thanks a lot for the advice, I'm glad to know I'm not being delusional here.