Roo or hen?

[lil_nyixx]

Hello people of BYC!

So, I saw quills starting to grow near my chicks other tail feathers. Is this a sign of a rooster? I had wanted to buy a hen, and i’ve never seen this on a female chick before.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Seems a bit early! All chickens get feathers on their rump ; ) do you have full body photos of the bird? Is it a plymouth rock?

 

[lil_nyixx]

Seems a bit early! All chickens get feathers on their rump ; ) do you have full body photos of the bird? Is it a plymouth rock?

Yes, It’s a plymouth rock. I don’t have a proper body picture besides the chick perching on my hand. :/

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Then your best bet is to probably wait. There can be some things like speed of which the wing feathers grow in, that can help tell gender but they can be unreliable sometimes as well. You don't have to wait until they crow or lay am egg but unfeathered chicks is a little early unless you notice a really reddened comb

 

[Painted Calls]

Post photos at 6 weeks, showing the comb and wattles.

 

[nuthatched]

Do you have pictures of the chickens as a baby? Barred rocks can often be sewed by the spot on their heads. Boys have a mullet, girls have a toupee.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Feather growth is no sign of a roo.
Full body pics of the bird?

 

[Acre4Me]

When you post pics again, try to have the bird standing and take pic from the side. This allows people to see the stance, and leg thickness. Get wattles and comb in that pic or in a separate pic. Wattle and comb development can really help with ID when they are younger than 12 weeks. Male saddle feathers show up around 12 weeks, so before that, we need to see the other elements of the chicken!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Nope, just growing feathers.