Silver Laced Wyandotte Pullet or Cockerel?

[BigBlueHen53]

He's showing saddle feathers, too. Handsome boy!

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I got a splash bantam Cochin, a red blue laced Wyandotte, and a silver laced Wyandotte. All sold as pullets.

However, my silver laced seems... a bit more masculine. This one has grown twice as fast as my other Wyandotte, has thicker legs, and it looks like the tail feathers are starting to curve down. The comb and wattle are also darker (and much bigger) already than even some of my older hens.

This one was a “replacement” after our other silver laced died three days after getting her, so when picking a new one, I picked the one that was hardest to catch because I figured it would be hardier than a calmer one. (We has picked the easiest to catch in our first batch, thinking they would be friendlier, but I’ve since realized even friendly chickens should be weary of strangers - unless they’re sick...) I noticed that for a while, this one liked to “challenge” even my older/bigger hens long after the two that came with him/her had settled in to their places in the flock.

I have a young blue Ameraucana rooster (from a breeder). He is a bit older than the silver laced. What I have noticed is that of my ten chickens (not counting the 4 one
month old chicks I have in the brooder), they split into two groups of five. With the five bigger ones going one way and the five smaller ones (including this one) going the other way. This is a relatively recent development as they were all pretty much sticking together. I wonder if the chickens know my silver laced is a roo and have grouped themselves accordingly.

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I think you’re right! It is masculine.

 

[Msfur08]

White wing bars are a male specific trait. You've got a cockerel there. Vent sexing is only about 80%-90% accurate. So even when buying sexed pullets there is always a chance of getting a cockerel.

Yeah. I had heard sometimes it happens. I’m not too worried. Our birds get lots of attention and affection. My other rooster, who we’ve had just a little longer, is turning out super friendly. He is the first to run to great us with happy clucks when he sees us and then follows us around for a while. I’ve been careful to show him that we are friendly, but also the boss and have put him in chicken jail for getting too rough. I’ve also “pecked” him for pecking his roost neighbors (which actually resolved the problem really well and has them much more peaceful when it’s time for bed.)

I will need to be sure to give this one a little extra TLC before those spurs get sharp!