sexing 9 week old chicks Very concerned!!!!

[cortner1195]

We started 2 Silver Wyandottes, 4 RIR's, and 2 Barred Rocks approximately 3/31. All of their bodies are similar in shape and size. However, one of the Barred Rocks, and 2 of the RIR's have much darker combs, and they have wattles. Everyone else has very short, pale combs and no wattles. Is this a normal variation? There is no crowing as of yet. We promised the neighbors that we wouldn't have roosters.

This wouldn't be a big deal as we raise our own beef, and pork, but the Barred Rock in question is the most personable chicken ever. Since she/he was a day old, she has craved attention. I have grown much too attached to a bird that I had planned to have around for years.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Panth]

we will need pictures to help identify sex, but it is usually the young cockerals that are the most outgoing and friendly

 

[Panth]

barred rocks should be easily sexable in that the males are much much lighter than females, you should notice a significant difference

 

[cortner1195]

Initially the one with the dark comb and wattle was quite a bit lighter in color. That difference seems to be closing. They are much harder to tell apart by color now.

 

[cortner1195]

 

[cortner1195]

Carol/Carl on the left is the chicken in question. On the right are three of my RIR's. They all have different amounts of crown, wattle.