Plymouth Rock thread!

[Davaroo]

I have my first chickens, now 5 weeks old and 8 of them are Barred Plymouth Rocks.  They are feathering in SO differently. I got straight run BR from McMurray.  5 are feathered enough to move out to the coop, but 3 of the 8 are just barely starting to feather beyond the wings, and 1 still has no tertials.  I assume this is part of the delayed feathering gene complex. I had read somewhere that only males will exhibit the late feathering, but I am starting to think that these might be pullets.  Is that possible? But, if they are delayed in feathering, will they also be slow in comb and body growth?  One of he 3 is noticeably smaller than the others.  Does this slow start mean they will not be hardy or productive? 2 of the 3, including the littlest one, are the life of the party in the brooder, the other seems less vigorous. 

They are anxious to get into a bigger area, but with temps around 40 at night yet, I'm nervous about putting the downy ones out yet.

I believe males are typically slow feathering...

 

[chickenlver2013]

Ok I bought these guys at the same time. What gender?

 

[DMRippy]

Ok I bought these guys at the same time. What gender?

I only see Cockerels.

 

[chickenlver2013]

I only see Cockerels.

Seriously? I thought the more feathered one is a girl.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree.

 

[Davaroo]

I only see Cockerels.

Seriously? I thought the more feathered one is a girl.

I'd like to hear the logic behind that statement myself.

 

[BlackPanther]

The angle is odd, but my first impression was that the more feathered one was a pullet as well...

I think the tilt of the head just makes it look as though it has a smaller comb.

 

[chickenlver2013]

Does this help?

 

[chickenlver2013]

these are the same chicks.

 

[DMRippy]

these are the same chicks.

That one is a pullet..... I think. That comb looked awfully red in the other picture though. Pullets combs don't have ANY color at that age. OK I am on the fence on this one. From the other pictures you posted first it looks like a cockerel still. Just grow them up. Feathering is not 100% for gender so don't let that throw you.