Telling the boys from the girls

[Beau coop]

I have 6 mille fluer d'uccles. Should be 4 hens to 2 roos (only wanted one). Now it looks like might be 3 and 3.

No one is crowing yet, but 3 of them have definitely larger combs than the rest. The largest of the group just barely has a nub for a comb.

Am I right to think these are roosters or do I need to wait for crowing to be definite?

 

[Frizzledhen]

How old are they?

 

[Beau coop]

They range in age from 5 to 8 weeks old.

 

[SunAngel]

I got 4 Mille Fleur d'Uccles from Ideal and was hoping for a couple hens. It became clear pretty early which was a roo. I sold him and the one in the middle of the 3 on the right. And kept the 2 I knew for sure were pullets. Even at only a month, the little roos comb was bright red and the other 3 barely had combs at all.

These were about 4 weeks old here.

 

[gritsar]

Generally four to six weeks is when the secondary sex characteristics start showing up and you can figure out the cockerels from the pullets. It's not all about the comb either. There are other signs of a cockerel besides a larger comb.

 

[Beau coop]

Well, I guess I have 3 roos then.

Sun Angel- How much did you sell your roos for?
Did you sell thru BYC?

Gritsar- do you mean like tailfeathers?

 

[SunAngel]

I was very stupid. I was trying to downsize before Winter, so I took the pair to the auction with some other roos and chickens in different boxes. The pair of d'Uccles actually went for $2!!! I am pretty sure one was a roo and one a pullet. I hope whoever bought them enjoys their great deal and cute chicks.

My guess is, noone at the sale knew what they really were and didn't want chicks so late in the year. Had I held onto them and sold them in the Spring, on BYC or Craigslist, I could have easily gotten $10-20 for the pair. Live and learn!!

I would think the roos should at least go for $5 each.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Here, take a look at this:


According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.
2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb – The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs – The cockerel’s legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail – The cockerel’s tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back – The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop – The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows – In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers.

It's not totally reliable for all breeds, but using these guidelines I was able to accurately pick out my three extra roos.