Rooster?

[LaurenRitz]

I noticed a few months ago that the pullet-turned-roo had an odd tail configuration at about 6 weeks.

Looking at it from the top it appears split. I notice the same thing on a six week old I am currently raising and I wondered if this might be an early sign of a cockerel?

I have attached pictures of both. At this point it's just curiosity, but if this is reliable it would make early sexing easier.

The first picture is a Black Australorp at 6 weeks, the other two are a Jersey Giant at about 8 weeks.

 

[Party_Chicken]

Cockerel

 

[LaurenRitz]

Cockerel

So is this a reliable indicator, a coincidence, or something that often works but not always?

 

[Tookie]

Those tail feathers don't mean anything. Around 12 weeks old male specific feathering comes in though. At this age we're looking at comb development.
Your Australorp is a pullet, and the JG in the 2nd picture is a cockerel, need face pictures of the other JG to sex.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Those two pictures are the same JG. I was simply wondering if this tail appearance was significant.

 

[Tookie]

Those two pictures are the same JG. I was simply wondering if this tail appearance was significant.

Ah, I see. Sorry about that.
Tail appearance is not significant.

 

[Tonyroo]

So is this a reliable indicator, a coincidence, or something that often works but not always?

Female juveniles usually show signs of the gapped tail feathers.