Slow feathering Brahma and Cochin = probably male?

[PowellAnimals]

Among my last batch of chicks, I have a bantam Dark Brahma, 2 bantam Cochins, and one regular sized Cochin. They are all five weeks old now. The regular sized Cochin and one of the bantam Cochins are almost fully feathered except for the head whereas the Dark Brahma and the other Cochin bantam only have partial wings grown in. They are all from a hatchery and have been fed the same thing. Is this slow feathering pattern mean they are probably males? I know that is frequently the case but I was not sure about these breeds. Thanks for the help!

 

[azygous]

Yes, it can mean that they are cockerels, but not always. Some breeds do require longer to mature.

But recently I found that slow wing feathering did mean cockerels for me. I had Cuckoo Marans that were very slow to develop wing feathers and they did turn out to be boys. Darnnit-all.