Speckled Sussex Pullet or Roo? PLEASE HELP :-)

[smokeysmokey100]

My daughter bought a baby speckled sussex that was supposed to be a pullet, but now that this bird is 6 weeks old, I am beginning to think it is a roo. We live in town and cannot have a rooster, so my daughter is very concerned. We cannot have any crowing so if it's a roo we have to get it put to sleep soon :-( Please advise....

 

[3riverschick]

Hard to tell. No reason to put it to sleep just list it on craigslist and someone will take it. Could go eitehr way on the sex. I vote for pullet due to tail shape.
Best,
Karen

 

[smokeysmokey100]

Thank you 3riverschick! I was thinking since the bird is only 6 weeks old and already has such a defined comb and waddles that it must be a roo. It was also late in getting it's tail feathers, which I thought was a sign of a rooster. Do SS hens develop early combs like this one? This bird came from Ideal Poultry, if that makes any difference.

 

[mshuntjump]

List it on craigslist. Better yet, where do you live? I'll be happy to take it and give this guy a chance. Very ignorant to put an animal to sleep because of their gender, when someone else would probably like to have it.

 

[smokeysmokey100]

Ignorant? I feel that is better than breaking it's neck, which is what a lot of people around here do! I am trying to deal with this the humane way.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Smokey, I would say you Sussex is boy, sorry.
His comb and wattles are already out and red and at that age 95% rooster!

 

[smokeysmokey100]

Thanks for letting me know cluckcluckluke! That's what I was guessing, but since we've never had Sussex before I wanted to make sure.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

With Speckled Sussex, if they are proper like quality I think there age can be determined by wing shape, tail length etc.
When I got my Marans at the age of 12 weeks, I said how can you know for sure these are pullets and the lady said you tell by the comb size and how much they have feathered. So there are more things you can look for in a chicken to tell it's age but unless that chicken pure, which most are not these days even the ones that say pure.lol. Then you wont be able to find out.

Hope you can relocate him fine.
I would keep him for a bit longer maybe, If you don't mind feeding him just to make 100% sure. If you do really like him.