Partridge Chanteclers @ 3 weeks (pics) [updated 6 1/2 week pics]

[TimG]

So, do I just wait until I catch one of them crowing? Or, is there a way to tell the boys from the girls sooner than that?

I'm thinking that the 4th and 5th ones I have pictured above are opposite sexes because of the coloring differences. But, even if I was sure of that, I wouldn't know how to group the rest of them.

 

[Chantecler01]

Are you aware that cockerels will grow pointed saddle and hackle feathers, while pullets' feathers in those areas will be rounded? Also, partridge males should develop black breast feathers, while females will be pencilled. Both have that "barred" look in the first juvenile feathers as a general rule. And typically, male leg color will be yellower than females in the partridge color. The females legs are almost always dusky if they have good pencilling.

 

[TimG]

No, I was not aware of the feather shape trick. At what age should this work?

I suspected black (or dark) chest feathers were a sign of males because of the similarities in coloring to Welsumers (and that was an indication for male Welsumers) but was not sure.

 

[TimG]

I am becoming rather smitten with this one which seems to get lighter around the head and neck by the day. I will be disappointed if this is not a female.

This one I'm thinking must be a male. Is it just me or are those big legs?

Then there are those colored somewhere in between, the first chick above with an in between chick.

And another in between chick with the first chick in the background.

I sure hope all these "in between" chicks aren't males.

 

[Carole AM]

I have one that just started to crow. He has more red/rust color on his neck than the others. The others I think are pullets have alot more barring on the back.