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Generally eyeliner means it's a girl although it's not 100%. Boys can have a smudge behind their eyes though. ETA: I had one of my 4 chicks that hatched at New Years with eyeliner turn out to be a boy. But 1 boy and 3 girls is fine with me!
No roo from the pics, Ziggy is Cheryl's Silver Penciled Rock rooster.
Eyeliner is indicitive of female feather sexing characteristics of Welsummers..along with a more defined "V" on the head. (Note: These characteristics are not prominent in all lines of Welsummers) When this 1st chick of Cheryl's is dry I am sure as time allows she will post a picture of it and we will be able to see the eyeliner more clearly. The feather sexing characteristics and traits in my birds are very strong and make it very easy to tell who is who. I'm sure she will get a roo or 2 and she will post pics of those as well so we can see the differences.
I really don't cull Wellie roosters too early unless they have a very obvious fault or defect...meaning if they are born with leg issues, white in any of their feathers or failure to thrive, squirrel tail, or others reasons along that nature and let me tell you, I'd have way less cockerels running around here if those things ever happened, but they don't and the are usually very healthy. I give Wellie cockerels quite a few weeks and most often a few months before making any decisions on them, they change alot in appearance and size in the first 6 mos. of age. Leg color can often change and get brighter and richer in color as they get older, so when we cull early we will never know. Above all....I will cull very early if any aggressive behaviors are making themselves known and it isn't just playing around or he doesn't get over it. I will not have an aggressive rooster......regardless of how nice he may be maturing. Ask me about the 6 mos. old BCM cockerel that just attacked me for the 2nd and last time a couple days ago.....well, better yet, maybe you shouldn't ask me about him.
I know I not alot of help and I know others will come along and share their advise and opinions too.
As of this monent we have 5 Welsummer chicks that hatched out of 8 eggs that were set and maybe 1 of the remaining 3 that is pipped but all the chicks are playing bowling so it is hard to tell!
I really don't cull Wellie roosters too early unless they have a very obvious fault or defect...meaning if they are born with leg issues, white in any of their feathers or failure to thrive, squirrel tail, or others reasons along that nature and let me tell you, I'd have way less cockerels running around here if those things ever happened, but they don't and the are usually very healthy. I give Wellie cockerels quite a few weeks and most often a few months before making any decisions on them, they change alot in appearance and size in the first 6 mos. of age. Leg color can often change and get brighter and richer in color as they get older, so when we cull early we will never know. Above all....I will cull very early if any aggressive behaviors are making themselves known and it isn't just playing around or he doesn't get over it. I will not have an aggressive rooster......regardless of how nice he may be maturing. Ask me about the 6 mos. old BCM cockerel that just attacked me for the 2nd and last time a couple days ago.....well, better yet, maybe you shouldn't ask me about him.
I know I not alot of help and I know others will come along and share their advise and opinions too.
Some early faults to cull for, that I can think of: incorrect leg color (which I don't think happens very often if you have good breeding stock), feather stubs on legs/feet (a BIG NO NO).
Other faults you can tell a little later, like comb side sprigs and coloring. (I have 1 girl in my layer flock with improper coloring - of course, she lays the darkest egg) Here is a picture of her showing her poor coloring:
I do plan to sell locally any females that are not up to breeding quality. But I'll have to grow them out to almost POL first. I have a couple of friends that have already told me they will buy whatever I have.
Pink.........I checked on the tracking number and they are here, but out for delivery! Darnit, I was going to pick them up at the post office. I'll let you know when I get them. ETA: I wasn't expecting them to get here that fast! Only a day!