Please tell me this is a pullet/hen!!

[KhalSancho]

So, we got our flock of seven ameraucanas two weeks ago(planned on six but got one free cuz she was being picked on too badly n would’ve been culled). We THOUGHT this was our only cockerel because of its pointy overcomb and neck feathers.. but as time went on, our other blue started developing into a rooster, he crowed for the first time today at 430am! Now.. what’s getting us is, this chick has NOT started developing a pea comb, has NOT started developing any red colour in its face and has NOT started to even attempt to crow and it’s the same size if not a little wider (but a tad shorter) than the one crowing who’s turning out to be a rooster. What throws us off is it has developed tail feathers where our other gals mostly don’t because they’re a bit smaller and had been picked on before we got them.. so we can’t tell if it’s just a SLOW developing cockerel or the dominant hen that’s never been picked on?? Thoughts?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I think you might have an ameraucana mix, it looks a little bit crested? Maybe a silkie mix? Whatever it is it doesn't look like a pure ameraucana to me...

And I see nothing that screams roo but they can be hard to sex. How old are they?

 

[CindyinSD]

I worked on the last photo to see the feather shapes better:

It looks to me like the hackles might be sword-shaped as those of a cockerel would be, but I am no expert.

 

[KhalSancho]

I think you might have an ameraucana mix, it looks a little bit crested? Maybe a silkie mix? Whatever it is it doesn't look like a pure ameraucana to me...

I think you might have an ameraucana mix, it looks a little bit crested? Maybe a silkie mix? Whatever it is it doesn't look like a pure ameraucana to me...

And I see nothing that screams roo but they can be hard to sex. How old are they?

And I see nothing that screams roo but they can be hard to sex. How old are they?

So, in Australia the import laws are much more strict. By Australia standards these are actually Pure ARAUCANAS not even Ameraucana because the UK n Australia recognises rumpless and tailed birds as Araucana.. I just switched it to Ameraucana because.. we’ll, it is what it is! I went to the breeders facility and she keeps them very clean and separated and catagorized.. this one was “pet quality” because of its “over comb feathers”. So, I agree with you by American standards.. and I am from California.. but for Oz, these would either be considered pure Araucana OR Ameraucana. I was totally confused too, until I dove into standard research by country lol

as for age, this one was hatched Aug 31 so 3 1/2 mo or so?? Thanks for the help and info!!

 

[KhalSancho]

I worked on the last photo to see the feather shapes better:

View attachment 1982940

It looks to me like the hackles might be sword-shaped as those of a cockerel would be, but I am no expert.

We thought this too at first but it still hasn’t tried to crow, isn’t developing comb or colour.. and now we’re thinking maybe it’s (pointy hackle feathers)just because he’s got such a gnarly pointy Afro head that maybe they’re just weird looking.. ughhhh I can’t stand not knowing lol i love them so much but because of his overcomb.. if I have to return one for a sexed hen.. it’ll have to be this one

 

[CindyinSD]

I hope it turns out to be a female. It is, honestly, very hard to tell in a bird with late-developing sex-specific traits. I got some Cochins this year and for a long time I thought they had sent me all pullets though I had ordered one cockerel. Nope. Cackle Hatchery is very good at sexing day-olds. One of them did finally bloom into a fine laddie. Here’s hoping yours is a lass!

 

[KhalSancho]

I hope it turns out to be a female. It is, honestly, very hard to tell in a bird with late-developing sex-specific traits. I got some Cochins this year and for a long time I thought they had sent me all pullets though I had ordered one cockerel. Nope. Cackle Hatchery is very good at sexing day-olds. One of them did finally bloom into a fine laddie. Here’s hoping yours is a lass!

Cheers and thanks heaps, we’ll keep our fingers crossed!

 

[chrissynemetz]

I think I'm leaning more towards pullet at the moment. Could you post more pictures in a couple of weeks?
Welcome to BYC by the way

 

[KhalSancho]

I think I'm leaning more towards pullet at the moment. Could you post more pictures in a couple of weeks?
Welcome to BYC by the way

Ohhh you’re making me happy lol just tell me what I want to hear no jk but seriously, PLEASE be a pullet I most definitely can and will. Thanks for the input and we’ll keep yas in the loop!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

How old, specifically? Looks like a UK standard araucana pullet to me.