The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[waddles99]

I think you might have a he. The comb looks awfully big for that age. But the again, I may be wrong. RC are hard to sex by comb.

 

[cmom]

Quote: Correct. My boys are really nice boys, great temperaments. They don't necessarily want to be handled but they don't mind a good pat.

I think you might have a he. The comb looks awfully big for that age. But the again, I may be wrong. RC are hard to sex by comb.

Actually it looks like a he to me too.

 

[waddles99]

Its hard to tell for sure at that age, but you can see the individual points forming on the comb. I feel as though if it were a pullet you wouldn't be able to see those tips, it would be smooth and flat, right?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

I think you might have a he. The comb looks awfully big for that age. But the again, I may be wrong. RC are hard to sex by comb.

Correct. My boys are really nice boys, great temperaments. They don't necessarily want to be handled but they don't mind a good pat.


Actually it looks like a he to me too.

Its hard to tell for sure at that age, but you can see the individual points forming on the comb. I feel as though if it were a pullet you wouldn't be able to see those tips, it would be smooth and flat, right?

It's my first ever RC, so I can't be sure. I was basing my assumption on feather growth. It's feathering far faster than it's hatch mate. From the growth patterns I've seen with other chicks, females feather out quicker than males. Early shoulder bows and tails typically indicate female. If it's a male, it's a fast progressing bird... far outpacing the SC of the same age... which I believe is most likely a male. Time will tell...

 

[waddles99]

I just raised by first batch of RC chicks myself. It was hard to tell the combs apart, but then one day it was very noticeable who was a roo and who wasn't. When the combs get all bumpy, thats when you know its a cockerel.

 

[cmom]

I just raised by first batch of RC chicks myself. It was hard to tell the combs apart, but then one day it was very noticeable who was a roo and who wasn't. When the combs get all bumpy, thats when you know its a cockerel.

I raise both Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds and Rose Comb Rhode Island Whites. I do think the chick is a male.
One of my female RC RIR's

She is a RC.

RC chick

This Patty she is an old girl.

A couple more of the older girls.

 

[cmom]

Quote: True. I still think it's a male but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[waddles99]

Would it be such a bad thing if it turned out a male? The same result could be achieved, correct?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Correct. My boys are really nice boys, great temperaments. They don't necessarily want to be handled but they don't mind a good pat.


Actually it looks like a he to me too.

Speaking of temperament... the older chicks are the sweetest chicks I've ever seen. If I call them, they come running. Not sure why there's such a difference between the two families, but Champ's babies love to interact with the humans, and if we sit down, they're on us. Sonny Jr. is a very tame bird as well, but his sisters are the most skittish birds I've ever owned. I treat them all the same, and try to be as calm and gentle as I can with all of them, but Pen #1 females just don't want anyone to get too close to them.

Champ, Jr. on my left knee, his sister on my right knee, and his little brother Runt on my left thigh.



This picture was taken a few days ago. This evening while I was sitting and watching, Champ, Jr. got on my knee again, along with his sister. After his sister decided to play parrot for awhile on my shoulder, he decided he'd give it a try. While it's pretty neat now, I don't know how I'm going to like him doing that when he's fully mature...

I just raised by first batch of RC chicks myself. It was hard to tell the combs apart, but then one day it was very noticeable who was a roo and who wasn't. When the combs get all bumpy, thats when you know its a cockerel.

It's comb is a bit wide... and completely covered in tiny bumps.

True. I still think it's a male but I hope I'm wrong.

You have a lot of experience with RC, but to be perfectly honest, I hope you're wrong, too. If I had a choice, I'd definitely rather have a female. If it is indeed a cockerel, so be it. Life will go on...

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Would it be such a bad thing if it turned out a male? The same result could be achieved, correct?

Yes, the same results can be achieved. While not "bad", I would prefer it to be a female, because it would give me eggs even when it isn't in a breeding pen.