Rooster questions Calling all Wyandotte Experts

[barg]

When do roosters start to get their mature rooster feathers?.
I'm trying to find out when I will know for sure if the new chicks are roosters.
In paticular winnie the wyandotte, as seen in my thread has too much pinkish red, i'm thinking.

Also
Did I read somewhere that combs can get more red when they are out in the sun, or is that just if they are sunburnt?

If you prefer to take a guess at what sex winnie will be , feel free to post that, or feel free to answer either of the other questions.
You can post your answer here or in my main thread , Ill probably copy any answers I get to that thread anyway.
/combs6.jpg

Thanks guys

 

[alex]

Well, chicks become mature at 4-5 months old. alex

 

[barg]

Is that when roosters first start to develop their distictive feathers; Long tails, different feather patterns and feather color?

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, wyandottes are a bit harder... but by 3 months, the roos should have their flowing tails and be identifiable. It's harder with no comparison though. A more experienced eye could probably tell at 6 weeks or so. A frontal and side shot might be easier to pick at to make guesses. Combs will be kind of pink, but roo combs will redden at like 6-8 weeks,with hens at3-4 months.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

It is hard to describe where to look for saddle feathers. Look on the back for shiny feathers at about 2 months old, they will look different from the rest. At 3 months you will be able to tell for dure. Hmm, ok, on their sides where there are little to no feathers, looks like fur kinda, you can lift the feathers and seperate them from the rest, you can also find saddle feathers there.
Hope you can understand what I mean.
-Michael

 

[mom23chicklets]

I can't help you with the feathers, but I have 5 GLW (messed up on my signature with 4),and they are only 8 weeks old now. I've known for probably over a month that one was a rooster. His comb was much redder than the hens. His waddles and ears (?) were much more pronounced at an early age.

 

[barg]

How does he compare to mine? Thats pic shows mine at 6+ weeks old.
And of coarse you can see more pic in my esther and winnie thread.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
You can change your signature under the tab called Profile

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As for identifying, it's hard to say when you don't have a bunch from the same group to observe because different lines can often develop slightly differently. Hopefully somebody can figure it out!

 

[barg]

I called privett today.
Since there seemed to be some confusion when I bought the chicks, I could'nt be sure if the feed store had actually ordered pullets or strait run , or what.
Privett would Not give me specific information about the order bacause I was not the person who ordered them, but through a sort of mental telephone telepathy, indicated that I probably had a 90% chance of having a pullet.

My opinion of them has raised slightly from the opinion i've given in previous posts.