Sapphire Olive Egger....pullet or cockerel?

[Krista2539]

Hello! About 7 weeks ago, we received 15 chicks from Hoover's. 5 are an assortment of Sapphires. 2 that are Sapphire Olive Eggers (tufts on heads) really have me concerned they might be cockerels. These two, pictured at about 6 weeks old, one now at about 7 weeks really has some rust colored feathers coming in at the wings, back of neck and throat. I sent pictures to Hoover's and their reply was pullet. I'm just not so convinced. Thoughts?

 

[FunClucks]

I see why you're concerned. Can you get us some better pictures of their faces - side view and front view of wattles and comb. I don't see male specific feathers on the body yet, or any straight up male coloration, but 15 weeks is when I expect to see saddle feathers.

 

[Krista2539]

Absolutely will get better pics today and post here! Thank you!

 

[JedJackson]

I'm not convinced, either. At 6 or 7 weeks, the blue ones look to be cockerels. Large combs and uneven coloring are what I am looking at.

 

[Krista2539]

Ok, got out and got some better pictures today (although it was getting a bit dark out) and I believe they are exactly 7 weeks old today. First 4 pictures are the one I'm most questioning with those rust colors coming in. The last 2 pictures are the other chicken I'm questioning pullet or cockerel. Thanks for talks input!

 

[WingItRanch]

Ok, got out and got some better pictures today (although it was getting a bit dark out) and I believe they are exactly 7 weeks old today. First 4 pictures are the one I'm most questioning with those rust colors coming in. The last 2 pictures are the other chicken I'm questioning pullet or cockerel. Thanks for talks input!

I don't see how Hoovers could say these are pullets. They're clearly way too developed at only 7 weeks old.

I'm going with both cockerels.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I would be shocked if those turned out to be pullets. At 7 weeks it'll probably be another 5-6 weeks before you start to see male specific feathering.

 

[Seaslug]

Hoover's Sapphire's can have some orange in them -- although I thought that it did not show until after the first molt. And the orange can be in females, not just males. And the breed does have large combs and waddles, again, on both hens and roos.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Those are both definitely cockerels, and the people at Hoover’s should be knowledgeable enough to know that. No pullet that age will have that big of a comb, and the rust colored feathers on the first are male specific. The second has darker feathers coming in on his wings which is also a sign of a cockerel.

 

[Krista2539]

Those are both definitely cockerels, and the people at Hoover’s should be knowledgeable enough to know that. No pullet that age will have that big of a comb, and the rust colored feathers on the first are male specific. The second has darker feathers coming in on his wings which is also a sign of a cockerel.

This is what I was leaning towards. I was actually quite annoyed with Hoovers response after I sent them my order number, multiple photos of the 2 in question, and those 2 in question compared to the other chicks. This email exchange was at 6 weeks old. I specifically explained in my email that I knew the one was a Sapphire Olive Egger because of the tuft on his head and I went on to point out his comb and wattle. Hoovers replied explaining that the tufts on their heads were not sex specific and then talked about how they were pullets because of their rounded feathers at the saddle. I was like.......HUH????? We are talking about 6 week old chicks and you are talking about saddle feathers??? And we are talking about 6 week old chicks and their massive combs and wattles and you are talking about the tufts on their heads and ignoring their combs??? I was polite in my response, but let them know I'd follow up in the coming weeks on what the chicks turned out to be!