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I know this isn't technically the right forum or thread, I should probably be on the gender/breed forum, but I really would rather post here to a smaller group, I hope no one minds. The last time I posted in that forum I got tons of responses, most of them from fairly new chicken owners. I should warn I tend to be a bit, er, verbose.

I have ten "chicks" all about 9 weeks old. 6 straight run Buff Orpingtons, 3 Rhode Island Red pullets and 1 Golden Comet pullet.

I like any new chick owner was checking on them constantly and made the observation that 2 of the BO chicks were feathering out in the same way as the 4 pullets, tailfeathers before the other 4 BO and got their feathers in faster, had the same body shape, etc. Because of that I was pretty sure I had 4 cockerals and 2 pullets in the BO group.

Two of the chicks started developing their combs and wattles about the same time and fairly red. The first was one I suspected of being a roo, the second one I thought was a pullet! (and their body types still looked distinctly different) Now at 9 weeks, 4 of the BO group have pretty developed wattles and combs, 2 redder and 2 more pink. 1 red and 1 pink that I thought looked like cockerals, 1 red and 1 pink that I thought were pullets. The other two's combs are just starting to develop and the birds are just overall smaller than the other 4. They are the other 2 that I thought were also cockerals, slow feathering different profile, etc.

My life is never simple so I shouldn't be surprised my birds are weird and not following some sort of set pattern.

Is comb development the most reliable way to sex birds at this age? In pictures I've noticed that BO hens also seem to have pretty large wattles and combs compared to some of the other breeds or do I have to wait until I catch each one either in the act of crowing or laying an egg (and then how will I know who has actually laid an egg)? I can have roosters and will probably keep one anyway so It's not like I need to make a decision on getting rid of any birds right away. I'm just confused. At what age would I expect to have trouble in the pen/coop with multiple roos? I do have someone who will take the extra boys from me and haven't ruled out making them my own dinner, but I don't want to get rid of or eat any hens either.

Thanks
 
Hiya Zany! I read that with Orpingtons the waddle development is 'the tell' when I was trying to sex mine. You could also post their pics on an Orpington thread and let the experts help you sex them.

When you will have trouble in the coop depends on many different factors, like your hen/roo ratio, how much space they have or if you free range. Having raised them together puts you one step ahead of the game...roosters that are hatch mates can often work together.

@Sara: I do not shop at Joann Fabric, not even sure where one is around here.... Downingtown maybe?

 
gardeningmama said:
Zany Chick, I am not going to try and answer your questions, can't not won't. But, ironically I do have a pic of my 3 buff orp pullets at exactly 9 weeks old. They are all females, hope this helps.
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Going by that picture I have 4 roosters and 2 pullets, just not the ones I originally thought were. Kind of a bummer because the roosters have better personalities!
 
Zany Chick said:
Going by that picture I have 4 roosters and 2 pullets, just not the ones I originally thought were. Kind of a bummer because the roosters have better personalities!
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Speaking on the "rooster personalities" I thought the same about my bantam cochins I got when they were 5 day old. Two ended up being boys and one a girl. I was bummed because I was thinking of getting rid of one of the boys but they had better personalities than the girl and the less "pretty" boy even more so than the gorgeous one. But as they matured the friendliness I loved in the boys became pushiness. Instead of coming forward wanting attenton, they began bullying their way out of the pen and demanding attention. My girl turned out to be so docile and wonderful. She will sit on my hand and I can walk all aorund with her. Hope that makes you feel better about your situation :)
 
Zoo Keeper said:
Speaking on the "rooster personalities" I thought the same about my bantam cochins I got when they were 5 day old. Two ended up being boys and one a girl. I was bummed because I was thinking of getting rid of one of the boys but they had better personalities than the girl and the less "pretty" boy even more so than the gorgeous one. But as they matured the friendliness I loved in the boys became pushiness. Instead of coming forward wanting attenton, they began bullying their way out of the pen and demanding attention. My girl turned out to be so docile and wonderful. She will sit on my hand and I can walk all aorund with her. Hope that makes you feel better about your situation :)
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That makes me feel a little better. Hopefully at least 3 of the roosters will become aggravating and then I wont feel so bad about getting rid of them!
 
Zoo Keeper said:

On another note... I believe my bantam mix chicks from the chicken swap may be mixed with quail. Just saying that by head shape and black stripe across the eye. I know nothing about quail. Anyone else have any ideas?
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Nevermind I guess that's not even possible. It's just driving me crazy trying to figure out what these are. I'm grasping at straws.
 

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