Silver laced Wyandotte

[Snarkmeat]

I purchased some sexed week old “pullets” from a local feed store (Edit : I believe they came from Ideal). I am convinced this chick is actually a cockerel but the feed store says it is too early to tell. It is currently 4.5 weeks old. All my current Wyandotte’s were purchased as point of lay so I don’t have experience with chicks of this breed but the comb and wattles at this age isn’t looking promising for me. The lacing also isn’t the same as the others I purchased in the same batch.












What do you guys think?

 

[chrissynemetz]

I'm thinking it's still a bit too young to tell. The feathering could maybe look a little male at the moment... but that can totally change in the next two weeks. Can you post more pics when it's about 6-8 weeks?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

agreed, give it more time.

 

[Thatothercrazychickenlady]

I think you have a right to be suspicious of this one but I agree it is a little early.

 

[Snarkmeat]

Oh good! I’m a little paranoid because one of the others I bought from there a few weeks prior did turn out to be a cockerel and this chick has been fighting with it. Any other chick I have had that had a red comb and wattles appear at 2 weeks has always been a roo. But not having experience with Wyandotte chicks, I can’t be certain. Hopefully it is just developing faster then the others. This one sticks out like a sore thumb right now.

 

[Acre4Me]

Give it more time. At 4.5 weeks old, it does have some reddening in the wattles, but very hard to really see the comb. Maybe a better pic of the comb and wattles now, but still on the young side to be definitive.

The lacing can look pretty strange when young, and you have hatchery quality SLW. Lacing is apparently a hard trait to get really picture perfect (or show quality), so that is not surprising. We have a hatchery quality SLW who is 15 months old. Her lacing is not at all exhibition quality, but still pretty. She hasn't molted yet, so I am curious if her lacing will get better after molt.

Here is our SLW at 4 and 5 weeks. She has some reddening of the wattles and is getting a decent comb. She is for sure a female - she is 15 months old now, and lays eggs.

 

[Snarkmeat]

I'm thinking it's still a bit too young to tell. The feathering could maybe look a little male at the moment... but that can totally change in the next two weeks. Can you post more pics when it's about 6-8 weeks?

I will not be able to post photos unfortunately as I won't be holding onto it. It's a now or never to exchange with the feed store as they will not be bringing in any more and I would be stuck with it. Another chicken forum the consensus is it is a cockerel so now I am torn with everyone here saying give it time.

 

[Acre4Me]

I will not be able to post photos unfortunately as I won't be holding onto it. It's a now or never to exchange with the feed store as they will not be bringing in any more and I would be stuck with it. Another chicken forum the consensus is it is a cockerel so now I am torn with everyone here saying give it time.

At 4.5 weeks, gender is not definitively known, irregardless of consensus. I posted the pics of my SLW (known female) in case it would help you to decide on yours. However, exchange the chick if you think that is best for your needs and situation.

Good luck

 

[Snarkmeat]

Your photo definitely helps!

I am at my roo max, so had stopped buying chicks and only going with point of lay. But I couldn’t pass on sexed chicks as we rarely have anything but autosexing/sexlinks locally.
As it turns out the store is all sold out and I should have brought it in last week when I first contacted them.

Hopefully it is a pullet! It is very out going and has a neat personality. This morning it was making a high pitched shriek and puffing it’s chest out. Woke me up!