Roo vs. Hen

[BettyWP]

When do roos start developing spurs? I have a 10 week old black chick that a friend thinks has spurs - tiny stubs on the inside of the legs. I can't post a photo as I've lost my cell phone for now. Sorry. I'll go look at the saddle feathers.

 

[Zac211]

how do we know if there is no photo ?

 

[BettyWP]

I went and checked and the neck feathers are pointy, but the tail feathers aren't. It's a supposedly BSL with golden neck feathers, but black everywhere else. Thanks. I posted a photo a few weeks ago.

 

[BettyWP]

I'll repost the photo from a few weeks ago.

 

[BettyWP]

 

[BettyWP]

This is a photo from a few weeks ago. I was feeling confident she was a hen until a friend came over today and picked her up and felt these tiny nubs on inside of leg 1/3 way up. At 12-13 weeks could this be nothing or start of spurs? Her neck feathers are pointy, but not tail feathers.

 

[BettyWP]

I posted a photo for you. It's about 3-4 weeks old. She/he is much larger now. I can't take a photo yet.

 

[Peep_Show]

If it's truly a BSL, then the roo would be barred. Hens sometimes get those spur bumps. Rather than neck feathers, look for saddle feathers. However, I think you have a hen. As she's nearing POL, her comb should be reddening up quite a bit.

 

[BettyWP]

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think there are saddle feathers. I'll have to look tomorrow - maybe by then I'll have my cell back and can take a photo. Thank you.

 

[donrae]

Spur buds are not at all a reliable indicator of gender, so tell your friend to quit freaking you out! You have a pretty black sex link pullet. Many birds of both genders get spur buds, and some hens even get some wicked spurs as they age. If your bird were male, it would be barred and have a decent size comb by now. Rest assured you'll be getting nice brown eggs here in a few months.