Orp chick

[gunslinger33]

I know right. Heck I give sex advise to the obvious characteristics. This one has no male dominant behavior and my adult rooster doesn’t seem bother by it.

I’m not sure if it’s the IC color or what.

This is a very large chick. So today I started to compare tail feathers as an indicator but not much obvious signs there either.

The only real rush for me is if it is a male I either have to re home him or re hoMe my CCO roo. The replacement is the rush. The older my current chicks 10-14 weeks the harder it will be to brood a chick or find a similar size and age replacement. The are house with two adult Orps which will also be a challenge.

 

[gunslinger33]

@Faraday40 whats your thoughts on those tail feathers?

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 whats your thoughts on those tail feathers?

It has the English body type & tail feathers. Both genders have a rounded butt.

What I can't see are the saddle feathers. (Light colored bird)

On the bright side, I went looking through some pics from 2016/17. At the time I needed a good lav roo, so I hatched 8 lav orps. It took me a long time to find a male.... because 7 of the 8 were female.
(The 2 co-broody hens raised them.)

I color coded the chicks to tell them apart.

I sold the 6 obvious females, and kept the 2 I thought were male.

At 15 weeks, the Isabel orp had saddle feathers, but not my other male

By 20 weeks I gave up my hope that she was male and sold her.

However, the good news is this gives me hope that I could be just as wrong about your current orp. My orp had the giant male wattles and pinkish comb just like yours.

 

[gunslinger33]

I looked last night for saddle and hackle feather indicators. Unfortunately again no distinct confirmation. The hackle feathers spear more of a spade shape (rounded with a pointed tip) not truly pointed and narrow. The hackle feathers are not fully formed yet.

Thank you for all of your help. If it is a roo I might keep him and re-home for CCO which seems to have fertility issues.

 

[gunslinger33]

Another week in the books. I’m about 99.9% sure it’s a pullet

 

[ColtHandorf]

I still say pullet.

 

[gunslinger33]

I don’t think that there is any question anymore. From saddle and shoulder feather to crazy brow feathers.

 

[gunslinger33]

Sorry.

Isn’t any question

 

[Faraday40]

I don’t think that there is any question anymore. From saddle and shoulder feather to crazy brow feathers.

View attachment 1843691

View attachment 1843694

Yes, he's a very pretty Isabel Orp.

 

[gunslinger33]

Thanks Faraday. Isabel is a very interesting color. We will try to figure out a way to keep him.

I could let him breed my CCO hen.