SLW--5 weeks--pullet or roo?

[Back to the Earth]

Is my SLW (5wks) a pullet or roo?

I thought pullet, but her wattles and comb are beginning to turn pink. Any SLW experts out there?

Wattle:

Comb:

Chest:

Back:

Side/top:

 

[jerseygirl1]

Have no clue, but it's 50/50 - I say roo

 

[Happy Chooks]

Roo

 

[Back to the Earth]

Ohhh. I hoped not.

What's the give away? Is it because of the comb? Or, is there a clue with feathers?

I'll keep them one more month, but after that it's back to the feed store...

 

[jerseygirl1]

This is all new to me, but I just started hatching my own, and every single roo has a much bigger beak than the pullets. This one looks like he has a huge beak

 

[speckledhen]

Right now, seems male to me, but I've had some SLW pullets whose combs became pinkish earlier than they should have. The males have different color pattern in the hackles than the females. Maybe another couple weeks will tell.

 

[Back to the Earth]

jerseygirl1: Is this when you hatched SLW's? Or, did this pattern emerge with all breeds of chickens?

 

[Back to the Earth]

Quote:
Thanks for the reply!! You say the SLW males have a different color pattern than the females and that in a couple weeks I should be able to tell the difference. What is the pattern I should be looking for? And, is this evident with juvenile or adult feathers?

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

You know, I'm not entirely sure when the males start looking "not female" in their plumage. I've only had hens in this breed, but if you look at pics of the SLWs on Feathersite, you'll see what I'm talking about.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Wyand/SLWyandCkl1.JPEG
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Wyand/SLWyPul1.JPEG

 

[poodlepill]

I have 4 SLW I swear I have 2 roo's and 2 pullets. The two I think are roo's both have redder combs AND both of them had much more white on their heads than the others as chicks. Seeing those pictures from the feather site, the roo's do have more white feathers on their head/neck.......hmmmmmm