Pullets or cockrels - Australorp

[kerlau]

New to chickens and were told we were buying 5 Australorp pullets, born in July, from someone on a local backyard chicken board. Now not sure if pullets or Cockrels. All 5 look pretty similar, but if photos of each individually are necessary, please let me know.

 

[Tookie]

I believe they're all pullets.

 

[kerlau]

I agree all look like pullets!

Yeah! Thank you!! We had a rooster that we reintroduced today, and each of the 5 challenged him, so we were thinking maybe they were Cockrels. Glad to say that they all settled in shortly, and appear to be doing fine. So happy to hear y’all think they’re pullets!

 

[Tookie]

Excellent! Thank you so much for the reference photo - this really helps. Ours should start laying soon, then? We were told they were born in July, so almost 6 months?

Going by the pictures they're not too close to laying.

 

[kerlau]

Going by the pictures they're not too close to laying.

Any signs I should be watching for as they get close?

 

[kerlau]

The short days of winter slows them down.

They'll probably put on a burst of maturity as the days get noticeably longer.

Does that mean they are younger than we were told? Or would you expect it due to time of year?

 

[Tookie]

Any signs I should be watching for as they get close?

Come and wattle development, their comb and wattles will start to redden up and get larger.

 

[kerlau]

Come and wattle development, their comb and wattles will start to redden up and get larger.

Thank you!

 

[kerlau]

You're welcome!
Another way to tell is by checking the pelvic bones, here's an article.->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Great info - thanks!

 

[kerlau]

I believe they're all pullets.

Thank you for the response! That's excellent news!!