roos

[Rte.66_chicks]

I bought five SLW's that were supposedly all pullets at the feed store about a month ogo or a bit longer, and have definitly pegged two of them as roos. The combs are bigger and distinctly red, and one has definite wattles already. Also, the wing feathers developed faster than the pullets, but they still have no tail feathers, while the girls are all developing nice tail feathers. Is tail feather development a reliable indicator of sex at this age?

 

[rubysmom]

I would love to see some pictures of your hens vs roos if you've got them? How big/how red is normal for a hen/roo at that age?. Do any of yours have a single comb?
Thanks
Claudia

 

[cjeanean]

from what I've read about feathering, the hens feather quicker than the roos. I think that may only apply to breeds that can be feather sexed, but I might be wrong. If the combs are turning red after a month of age, odds are it's a roo. Do you have pics??? When my roo was 5.5-6 wks old you could definately tell he was a he!!! Sorry I can't help more!!!! Good luck!

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

OK, I'm going to use my incredible lack of photography skills and photobucket expertise to try to show what I think are roos and pullets. Please be patient!

Roo-at least the red pea comb makes me think so.

Another view-I think the wattles are more visible here.

And one of the pretty girls-notice no red comb, and longer tail feathers.

And for the life of me, I cannot figure out why my camera sometimes focuses on the background rather than the subject! Sorry about the blurry photos!

 

[rubysmom]

Okay, so the first one is definitely much redder than mine and for some reason mine has the wrong comb shape so it makes it even harder to tell? How old are the chicks in the pics ? Mine's feathers look alot more like your girls, on the tail and on the head and neck. ooooohh maybe she is a girl!!

Thanks for the pictures that helps.

 

[rubysmom]

Here's my pics.


Sweet Bess

She does have a big tail and less developed wings?
What do you think? Her comb doesn't look quite as red in real life as it does in the pictures.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Mine are about 5 weeks old, and I think I misstated what kind of comb that is, as the MM catalogue states that SLW's have rose combs.

 

[rubysmom]

They're supposed to have a rose comb, I think? Mine obviously does not. She's got some genetic issues

Mine is 7 weeks old.

 

[Half-a-dozen]

if ya don't mind me asking perhaps a silly ????
what color were these SLW as baby chicks? Reason I asked is I got one supposedly SLW an it is all yellow. I asked three times the farm store assured me its a SLW, but it seems it should be another color as a chick???

also i will post another post RE: your roo ??? have pictures up-loading

 

[Half-a-dozen]

I know it's not SLW but I hear about this waddle comb thing quite a bit on here. I got two Speckled sussex, they are now 6 weeks old. Both promised to be pullets.............???????????

As you will see from the pics.....developing at two completely different rates..............one distinctly different from the other in comb and waddle size and color, slightly different on tail feathers especially how it's position...........now are they still both pullets????? .........I am certainly starting to wonder, they are suppose to be and I've not had it happen so far that they were not when they said they were, so the waddle/comb thing boggles me........... I am still banking on two hens and just developing differently. Anyway here are the pics......

Speckled Sussex at six weeks..supposedly a pullet.....

another speckled sussex at six weeks......

see the difference...

and digging thru my pics....I believe these are both of them sleeping a tikes

Big difference.....could they me mates????