Rooster or hen Australorp 18 wks old?

[fancyfarm]

I’m a new chick mom and got 3 chicks back in March. They are now just about 17 weeks old and one of them is maturing faster, has a more vibrant red coloring, is larger and the most chatty of the 3. Someone told me she is a rooster, but I am not so sure. I know I’m new to the chicken world, so I’m hoping someone out there can tell me if I do in fact have a rooster in the mix. You’ll be able to tell which one I’m asking about.

 

[pozees2]

I think it's just a fast maturing pullet. Seems to me it would be crowing by now if it was a male.

 

[fancyfarm]

I think it's just a fast maturing pullet. Seems to me it would be crowing by now if it was a male.

Not sure if it changes your answer but I re-did my math and they are all just under 17wks.

 

[pozees2]

No, it doesn't really, I think if it was a male with that much red in the comb and wattles it would be crowing. I don't see any male feathers, harder to see when the bird is all black and I do have old eyes so there's certainly no guarantee I'm correct, but it does not look like a male bird to me.

 

[fancyfarm]

thank you so much for your input!

 

[Whigru]

I have a friend with an Australorp and her girls look like this one, too. The tail feathers seem very pullet-like to me.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Pullet. Heres on of my blue australorps at 15 weeks. Her comb and wattles are even bigger now at 17 weeks.

 

[Acre4Me]

Pullet. We’ve had a male BA and females. The male would be obvious in feathering, and crowing by now.

 

[fancyfarm]

I have a friend with an Australorp and her girls look like this one, too. The tail feathers seem very pullet-like to me.

Thank you!

 

[fancyfarm]

Pullet. Heres on of my blue australorps at 15 weeks. Her comb and wattles are even bigger now at 17 weeks.

Thank you! I love your blues!