Roo or Not?

[GeekiTurtle]

Can somebody help identify if these are roos or not? They're about 7 weeks old now.

I know this one is a roo...

This one looked like it was going to be a roo but then stopped and wattles didn't appear like the 1st one and the comb hasn't gotten darker...

This one has the same problem comb only got slightly bigger and then turned pink...

Here are some pictures of the ones I believe to be pullets of the same breed (Boschveld). Are late bloomers a thing for chickens?

 

[Egger Anna]

2nd, 3rd, and 7th look like roos.

 

[FrostRanger]

2nd, 3rd, and 7th look like roos.

Agreed, they all have male specific color patterns. The others (other than 1 of course but you already knew that) look to be pullets (and 5 and 8 are almost certainly for sure pullets as that color pattern is female specific)

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'd say the first 3 are most likely boys. 7 weeks is still pretty young, so I wouldn't call them "late bloomers" at that age, but slow developing cockerels are definitely a thing. And often times the presence of a dominant cockerel can suppress development in submissive cockerels.

 

[GeekiTurtle]

Agreed, they all have male specific color patterns. The others (other than 1 of course but you already knew that) look to be pullets (and 5 and 8 are almost certainly for sure pullets as that color pattern is female specific)

I don't want to base gender from the colours they have. The genetics for the breed are all over the place. 2 was basically black when born and 7 was platinum.

 

[GeekiTurtle]

I'd say the first 3 are most likely boys. 7 weeks is still pretty young, so I wouldn't call them "late bloomers" at that age, but slow developing cockerels are definitely a thing. And often times the presence of a dominant cockerel can suppress development in submissive cockerels.

Quite interesting that a dominant cockrel can delay others...

 

[FrostRanger]

I don't want to base gender from the colours they have. The genetics for the breed are all over the place. 2 was basically black when born and 7 was platinum.

Some colors patterns are male or female specific. Nothing to do with breed or mix (unless said breed has hen feathered roosters but very few breeds do). Females generally have a fairly even pattern while males will have a splotchy uneven pattern often with red patches. Not every bird will have a gender specific color patternpattern, but when they do it's a very good indicator of gender (barring some very rare genetic abnormalities and/or reproductive issues). Most of your birds do have gender specific color patterns

 

[nuthatched]

I don't want to base gender from the colours they have. The genetics for the breed are all over the place. 2 was basically black when born and 7 was platinum.

Yes but, there are male specific in any breed, such as dark red patches on the wings.

 

[GeekiTurtle]

Some colors patterns are male or female specific. Nothing to do with breed or mix (unless said breed has hen feathered roosters but very few breeds do). Females generally have a fairly even pattern while males will have a splotchy uneven pattern often with red patches. Not every bird will have a gender specific color patternpattern, but when they do it's a very good indicator of gender (barring some very rare genetic abnormalities and/or reproductive issues). Most of your birds do have gender specific color patterns

Here is a picture of most of my chickens (all same breed). The pictures I posted are of the named chickens. I can't tell apart the others because they all have generic spotty patterns.

The splotches are part of the breed.

I see somebody mentioned dark red for roos. I'll have to look into it more because I know that the males can have female ish colours.

 

[FrostRanger]

Here is a picture of most of my chickens (all same breed). The pictures I posted are of the named chickens. I can't tell apart the others because they all have generic spotty patterns.
View attachment 4285304The splotches are part of the breed.

I see somebody mentioned dark red for roos. I'll have to look into it more because I know that the males can have female ish colours.

It's not just the presence of splotches but how even they are. Take the black and white one on the top left compared to the one next to him on the right (ignoring the one diving under them). While they are both splotchy notice how the one on the left has an uneven pattern while the one on the right has a fairly even pattern. The one the right of her is even better as that is a classic female partridge pattern. Notice how even it is