Sex/breed??

[Mlou2180]

I have several chickens I bought from a local box store (before I knew how to find local individuals so buy from). Some of these I special ordered and some I bought from them according to what they told me they were. I was wondering if I could get opinions on what breed and sex these are! My special order was supposed to be all pullets. And the ones I bought from the tubs were supposed to be as well. But I’ve had some individuals tell me different! Please let me know what you think!!View attachment 3433493

 

[Sally PB]

They're too young to tell. Post again in a few weeks. I'm suspicious of #5 being a cockerel, based on comb development, but I don't know enough to be sure.

 

[Mlou2180]

They're too young to tell. Post again in a few weeks. I'm suspicious of #5 being a cockerel, based on comb development, but I don't know enough to be sure.

Thank you! How old do they normally have to be to be able to tell?

 

[Sally PB]

At least 6-8 weeks, and sometimes more like 10.

Cockerels' comb and wattles usually develop earlier. They also turn red earlier too, as pullets' don't start to show much color until they are close to laying.

Some boys will crow -- or try to -- by 4-6 weeks.

There are male specific feather patterns, but those are usually later to develop.

 

[Sally PB]

Good pictures, by the way. Nice and sharp. The numbers help too, so the bird is easily identified.

The spread out wing pictures don't tell anything. If you were thinking about "feather sexing," that only works with certain crossbreeds, and at very young ages.

 

[Mlou2180]

At least 6-8 weeks, and sometimes more like 10.

Cockerels' comb and wattles usually develop earlier. They also turn red earlier too, as pullets' don't start to show much color until they are close to laying.

Some boys will crow -- or try to -- by 4-6 weeks.

There are male specific feather patterns, but those are usually later to develop.

Okay! The ones I'm worried most about are 11 and 14. They are about 6 weeks old and I'm really hoping they are female. I had them special ordered as pullets and we already gave them girl names! Ha!

 

[Sally PB]

I had them special ordered as pullets and we already gave them girl names!

When you order pullets, the hatchery does what's called "vent sexing" at a day old. It's only 90% accurate.

In case you don't know... vent sexing is looking at the baby chicks private parts inside the vent. You have to know what you're doing because it can damage the chick. And everything is small and not necessarily easy to recognize.

There are breeds of chickens that are "auto-sexing" at hatch. That means that the males and females look enough different in their color/markings to tell which is which.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Too young for sex except on the Sapphires which are pullets and the California White is likely a pullet as well since males redden up early.
1-I need better pictures for breed
2-Silver Laced Cochin
3-California White
4- I can't tell in the lighting. Does it have grey feathers emerging on neck? Is it pure white? May be a Delaware, White Rock, or even another California White among other possibilities
5-assuming bottoms of feet stay white or pink it's likely an Australorp if eyes stay quite dark. Potentially a clean-legged or English-style Marans especially if eyes lighten
6-Black or Black Copper Marans. Perhaps marketed as "Midnight Majesty" making it a sex-linked pullet
11/14-11 is definitely a Sapphire Gem. 14 likely is and definitely is if it has yellow/green legs like the other

 

[Mlou2180]

Too young for sex except on the Sapphires which are pullets and the California White is likely a pullet as well since males redden up early.
1-I need better pictures for breed
2-Silver Laced Cochin
3-California White
4- I can't tell in the lighting. Does it have grey feathers emerging on neck? Is it pure white? May be a Delaware, White Rock, or even another California White among other possibilities
5-assuming bottoms of feet stay white or pink it's likely an Australorp if eyes stay quite dark. Potentially a clean-legged or English-style Marans especially if eyes lighten
6-Black or Black Copper Marans. Perhaps marketed as "Midnight Majesty" making it a sex-linked pullet
11/14-11 is definitely a Sapphire Gem. 14 likely is and definitely is if it has yellow/green legs like the other

Thank you so much!!!