SSH Sexing and question about spurs

[Riven]

I have some silver spangled hamburgs I purchased. I have a total of 6, and know I have at least one hen possibly two from eggs laid. They appear to be younger animals, but I am not sure.

Is there any way to tell hens from roos? None appear to have longer hackles or tail feathers at this time. It may be possible they are young hens and not laying, or even young roos. I've not heard any of them crow, but being as where they are I might not hear them if I was outside, but I am outside a lot and have yet to hear any crowing from anything other than my cochin roo in the other pen.

One of them has spurs, are spurs only found on roosters? At what age do they normally develop? It was my neighbor who first noticed them, and they are quiet long, probably a 1/2" or so. One is longer than the other, perhaps injury?


Any help would be great. I will also try to get photos tomorrow in the light.

 

[jossanne]

I have 4 SSH hens and had one rooster. My hens all have 1/2" spurs at almost 2 years old. The roo was killed right about his first birthday, and he had spurs already. But he was obviously a roo from between two and three weeks old. His comb was already developing and turning red at that age. At a year old, it was much larger than the hens, and he had obvious sickle feathers in his tail and saddle and hackle feathers. He was quite striking.

I'd really bet with the lack of sickle feathers that you're describing that you've got hens. I'm going to start digging through my pictures, and see what I can find for you.

Any way you can post pics?

 

[jossanne]

Okay, found a picture of my roo at just over four months old. There was no doubting that he's a boy. See how white his hackle feathers are, with that big comb...

And here's a pullet, only about three months old. As adults they look just the same, except not quite so leggy, and with more comb.

Right now at almost two years old, they've got nice red combs, with a bunch of little bumps all over, kinda like this...

 

[eggsited chickens]

I have a one yr old hen who has spurs too. THey are a little smaller than my one yr old roosters though