Stealth Rooster?

[Painted Calls]

Silver and gold leakage like that in those areas indicates a male.

It certainly does, but I just don't see any saddles. Gah. Most of the time I'm no holds barred certain. I hate it when clear signs are present and others aren't.

 

[ColtHandorf]

It certainly does, but I just don't see any saddles. Gah. Most of the time I'm no holds barred certain. I hate it when clear signs are present and others aren't.

They are the same age and clutchmates. That's indicative enough for me. We'll see, but I see them both as male.

 

[3KillerBs]

Back Saddle feathers

That photo nails it for sure -- male.

 

[MrsEarthern]

Lacy and Lady are my smallest birds by far, and have been since I got them.
The person I bought them from accepted my friend request on FB and I have been looking through her photos and am no longer certain about the parentage of my birds, as she had photos of several other roosters free ranging and it looks like she also had some Olive eggers or Easter eggers in her flock at the time that my birds were fertilized eggs and did not reduce her flock to Australorp and Orpington until after my batch had hatched between March 11-18. They may have Americana, Plymouth Blue Rock, Silverlace Wyandotte and/or White Leghorn in them.

I will come back in a week or two if their feathers change any more so as not to waste your time.
I got them from a backyard breeder Tye-Dye Acres near me and this is where they came from plus a sibling if anyone is interested.


Their flock at time of laying.

~15 week old bird I passed up on.

Fertile eggs removed from breeding pairs after the batch I purchased from had started hatching.

 

[MrsEarthern]

Ok, so they'll be 25 weeks or so on Friday Sept 9th and Lavender and Darkwing are my only females, the rest are for sure males. Lacy and Laddie (Formerly Lady) have grown and their saddles and hackles are clearly male.

 

[JedJackson]

Ok, so they'll be 25 weeks or so on Friday Sept 9th and Lavender and Darkwing are my only females, the rest are for sure males. Lacy and Laddie (Formerly Lady) have grown and their saddles and hackles are clearly male.

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They are beautiful hens at least. You definitely should think of re-homing or eating the cockerels. They will run roughshod over those two hens.

 

[MrsEarthern]

They are beautiful hens at least. You definitely should think of re-homing or eating the cockerels. They will run roughshod over those two hens.

I'm on the look-out for some older pullets or hens, but the plan is to eat two of the boys.
There are so many chickens around here that they'd end up cock fighting or as bait if we didn't.

 

[JedJackson]

I'm on the look-out for some older pullets or hens, but the plan is to eat two of the boys.
There are so many chickens around here that they'd end up cock fighting or as bait if we didn't.

Good idea. Too many roosters just cause problems.

I would try for pullets rather than older hens. Easier to integrate them and they have their whole laying lives ahead of them. Or buy sexed chicks in Spring.

 

[MrsEarthern]

Good idea. Too many roosters just cause problems.

I would try for pullets rather than older hens. Easier to integrate them and they have their whole laying lives ahead of them. Or buy sexed chicks in Spring.

A lot of people get rid of 2-3 year old birds around here, I'm interested in filling out my flock with more ladies and wouldn't mind a broody hen or two, but any females would be good.
They have been eating sparrows so I don't think I can introduce chicks without a momma to watch over them.

 

[JedJackson]

A lot of people get rid of 2-3 year old birds around here, I'm interested in filling out my flock with more ladies and wouldn't mind a broody hen or two, but any females would be good.
They have been eating sparrows so I don't think I can introduce chicks without a momma to watch over them.

Yikes! Yes, I would definitely avoid small birds in that case.