Three 7-8 weeks old Buff Orpingtons

[jenifern]

So do waddles matter as far as determining sex? Just curious because some 4week Orpingtons have tiny ones and some don’t.

Yes definitely in most cases the roos wattles flush red and are bigger than the girls. I also look at their legs, thick legs typically mean boy but I add up all the signs. Its easier if you have a group of the same breed/same age. Though with birds like my silkies it's not as obvious.

 

[Chicksnmind]

So the girls when they get their waddles won’t be red?

 

[jenifern]

So the girls when they get their waddles won’t be red?

They will, but closer to the time that they are laying. If you have any older hens or point of lay hens you will notice when they start sqwaking about laying an egg their whole face will flush red including their combs and wattles. It is a good indicator of general health too. A pale comb typically means there is something wrong or they are old and likely not laying anymore.

here is a good reference: https://animals.mom.me/functions-wattles-chickens-5568.html

 

[KikiDeAnime]

New photos of the one I'm most suspicious of.
It's comb is the only one changing color.

 

[southern chooks]

New photos of the one I'm most suspicious of.
It's comb is the only one changing color.
View attachment 1756179 View attachment 1756180 View attachment 1756182

I still think it’s a pullet

 

[southern chooks]

I had one that was even more red than that at 9 weeks and it was a pullet

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I'll need to get photos but he definitely has tiny wattles growing. The other 2 have nothing.