Sexing + possible frostbite?

[CatsAndChickensAndDogs]

Hi everyone!

I have 4 chicks that are about six weeks old, I don’t know their breeds as I got them assorted. They are kept in a room in our barn, protected from the wind, that’s fully insulated. I’ve noticed that in the past week, one of the chick’s combs has started to turn black at the top. I’ve read this might be caused by frostbite, so I’ve kept a heat lamp in there just in case, but I’m still concerned. The heat lamp isn’t too hot, I don’t know exact tempatures but it’s kept fairly high off the ground. They have parts away from the lamps area so they don’t feel too stuffed in. I think this is good, but I’m not too sure. We’re in Canada, but it hasn’t really been that cold in our area. I’ve also been wondering about gender. I think I might have two roosters and two hens, because two of them are larger than the others with red combs. I’ve attached pictures, I think the first two might be roosters? 3rd picture is who I’m concerned about with the possible frost bite, and with the 4th girl, her comb is really small and yellow. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
(Also sorry for the long post!)

 

[Cheekychook12]

Hi everyone!

I have 4 chicks that are about six weeks old, I don’t know their breeds as I got them assorted. They are kept in a room in our barn, protected from the wind, that’s fully insulated. I’ve noticed that in the past week, one of the chick’s combs has started to turn black at the top. I’ve read this might be caused by frostbite, so I’ve kept a heat lamp in there just in case, but I’m still concerned. The heat lamp isn’t too hot, I don’t know exact tempatures but it’s kept fairly high off the ground. They have parts away from the lamps area so they don’t feel too stuffed in. I think this is good, but I’m not too sure. We’re in Canada, but it hasn’t really been that cold in our area. I’ve also been wondering about gender. I think I might have two roosters and two hens, because two of them are larger than the others with red combs. I’ve attached pictures, I think the first two might be roosters? 3rd picture is who I’m concerned about with the possible frost bite, and with the 4th girl, her comb is really small and yellow. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
(Also sorry for the long post!)

The first three look roostery to me, don’t know about the frostbite sorry

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since they look to be different breeds and you didn't provide breed you can't compare them to one another for gender identification, but the large combs on 1 and 2 make me think they could be cockerels.

#3 doesn't have frostbite, it looks to be the skin color as it has black/gray skin (forgot the technical term) but the pink color is starting to come through.

 

[Predoggg]

First 3 do I suspect to be roosters. Your 3rd picture looks like the black copper Maran rooster. Not just because of the comp development but also of the black of the comp. I had a day old chick with a black comp and turned out to be a rooster later.

 

[Squawkers]

First 3 do I suspect to be roosters. Your 3rd picture looks like the black copper Maran rooster. Not just because of the comp development but also of the black of the comp. I had a day old chick with a black comp and turned out to be a rooster later.

The black comb does not indicate sex, it is just a breed trait.

 

[Predoggg]

I know it is a breed trait the black comb but the rooster of the breed had black in his comb (nearly all the way black) while the pullets had none. The unusal coloring of the comb made me suspect right away a rooster. His comb turned red later.

 

[CombNWattles]

Since they look to be different breeds and you didn't provide breed you can't compare them to one another for gender identification, but the large combs on 1 and 2 make me think they could be cockerels.

#3 doesn't have frostbite, it looks to be the skin color as it has black/gray skin (forgot the technical term) but the pink color is starting to come through.

Agreed. I think the term is fibromelanistic..?