PLEASE look - 4 Week Old Buff Orphington chicks - gender guesses?

[CreeksideChik]

I had a terrible experience trying to add 3 Black Australorp chicks to my existing flock this year--2 out of 3 turned out to be roosters, and I returned them all to the feed store. The store let me swap them out, but didn't have Australorps, so I got Buff Orphington chicks (which again are SUPPOSED to be all pullets-I hope at least 2 are, as I can't integrate a single bird and don't want to have to take all three back again!!). Now, I've been SO paranoid because I WILL NOT kerp a rooster (I tried the year I started keeping chickens ...never ever ever again ). Out of my 3 chicks that are approximately 4 weeks old, one is dominant, slightly larger, is more feathered out, and has an ever so slightly larger comb(but it is very light colored). Take a look at the pics...it may be too early to tell, but could anyone offer their guesses on what I have?

 

[CreeksideChik]

The one I am really concerned about is in the front...the one in the back standing up tall really does not normally do that!

 

[LoveMyRocks]

Wow, there's one chick in my flock that I will be heartbroken over if it turns out to be a roo. It's the runt--much smaller than the others--and I have a feeling my nursing with electrolytes and egg yolk got it through the night. When I stick my hand in the brooder, it comes right to me and loves to nap cupped in my hands. I'm calling her my little gal, because I so hope it's a hen and I don't want to jinx it.

I'm a first time mama hen, so I couldn't begin to venture a guess, other than to say that out of my 16 chicks, no two are exactly alike. They're all unique little peeps! But have you tried the hat trick? I read a lot in preparation for my chicks, and I think I read about it in the book Chick Days by Jenna Woginrich (my favorite chick prep book, btw). If I remember correctly, you let the chicks mill about for a few minutes in your kitchen, living room (or I guess somewhere with a hard floor), and then suddenly drop a hat to the floor. Supposedly, the hens will crouch down, shrink back, or run, while the roos will lift their heads and look around out of instinct. It's supposed to work on three to six week old chicks. Of course, it may be about as reliable as the pencil trick on pregnant women, but it sounds like a fun experiment to try anyway! Good luck!

 

[CreeksideChik]

Thanks! I have tried something similar while the chicks have been in their brooder box, and I've noticed the chick in question does "drop it" like my mature hens do...I'm reeeally hoping for all hens, because if not, they must go back! I will have to try the "hat trick"!

 

[CreeksideChik]

Does anyone else have any guesses, please!!!

 

[Poco]

I'm new to this too. I can't really tell from your picture, but if the chick is developing wattles then it is probably a boy. Some chicks get combs faster than the others so you can't really tell from that until they are a little older. I think its a girl but I'm just guessing.

 

[jamie7100]

I would take some new closer pictures in a couple weeks. I don't see anything that screams cockerel, but it is still pretty early. As a PP said, if you see any wattle action or any red on the face/comb at this point, you have a boy.

 

[DomesticDiva12]

Just a tad too early to say for sure. My BO roo started getting red at 3-4 weeks. Do you have a closer picture of that one from the side? What was you bad experience with a roo before. I had a BO roo last year and he was very docile and relatively quiet for a rooster. I love the breed, definitely my favorite