saddle feathers

[lovinlife]

At what age do the saddle feathers start getting pointy on a cockerel?

I ordered all pullets from Welp. I have some Silver Laced Wyandottes that are worrying me. They all have the same rounded saddle feathers and they're 6 weeks old.

I'm worried about the red waddles and comb. But the saddle feathers are very rounded. Is the bird too young to have pointy saddle feathers? If this is a roo, then they sent me all roosters. I'm a believer in waiting until the rooster crows or the pullet lays, but it's nice to have an idea before then...

My camera is not taking outdoor pics very well. I need to figure out another way to get good pics outside.

 

[Mahonri]

True 'saddle feathers' that go off the back to each side would indicate a roo.

That pic looks like a pullet to me , but it's early.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

While others on BYC have had different experiences, I have found that my Wyandotte pullets tend to pink up early. Hatcheries do make some errors in sexing, but usually not on ALL of their birds! They'd go out of business very quickly if they sent all their customers roos when pullets were ordered!

I tend to notice saddle feathers START coming in around 10-12 weeks - you'd be able to see their shape a few weeks later.

I would give the birds some more time - they are probably pullets!

 

[lovinlife]

Well, you two really helped boost my spirits.

I've taken pics every week, religiously, to document their growth. This week has been hard since they're outside now and I don't have a good place to take their photo. I'll take a towel out tomorrow for a backdrop and hope to get better pics.

I spent some time in the pen with them this morning and noticed that they all have very rounded saddle feathers, no sign of pointy feathers at all. The SLW all have pinkish combs and waddles. The GLW are less pink. The mystery Wyandottes (were ordered as BLRW but obviously are NOT) are all yellow comb and waddles. Very different among the different breeds.

These are the unknowns...

As always, I will know for sure when they mature.

It's fun guessing, though.

 

[lovinlife]

Sorry, the unknowns are the ones in the front, the buff laced one and the solid buff-colored one.

There is a Cuckoo Marans pullet, the other buff one and two of the SLW in the pic also (barely off to the right is a partridge rock pullet).

 

[Illia]

The white and red tinted chicken in front is a White Laced Red Cornish. . . And a pullet. The SLW is also a pullet.

 

[lovinlife]

Thanks for your input, Illia. I sure hope the SLW is a pullet!

I'm more inclined to believe the white laced one is a buff laced wyandotte than a cornish. I do believe it's a pullet, but she's not stocky like a cornish at all. The other two are more than likely buff wyandottes.

I called Welp about them when they were 3 weeks old. They said they do carry Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. They do not carry buff laced or buff wyandottes. But, it's a hatchery and I don't trust them entirely. The woman I talked to told me to stay in touch about the chicks and to let her know i they are not BLRW. I will definitely send them an email with pics. If they all hatched out together, then surely they are just some variation of a wyandotte. I ordered 5 of the BLRW and 2 went to a friend. I haven't verified what hers look like.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Hatchery Cornish are not stocky at all - They're very leggy and long-necked with skinny bodies just like her. See the comb. . . You'll notice it is a pea comb, not a rose comb.

 

[lovinlife]

Okay, so what do you think the buff-colored ones are? They all looked the same as chicks.

Their combs are flat and pale yellow.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
edited, as I read it wrong.

Are you sure they were FLAT, no bumps or anything at any time?

BLRW chicks should be dark greyish blue and red marbled.