Too early to crow?

[MLeon]

My daughter is raising 10 buff Orpington for her Agriscience class. They’re supposed to be hens, 6.5 weeks so old. The last 3 mornings, we’ve heard what seems to be a serious attempt at crowing, each day from a different one. I’ve heard comb size/color is not a good indicator, but the “crowers” have bright red combs, wether the rest have nothing yet. We can’t keep the roosters, so when can I know for sure? I would like to find them a good farm! Attaching pics...

 

[Pork Pie]

Maybe if you take profile pics (side-on) of each bird and post on this forum, you will get the help you need -
http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

 

[igorsMistress]

Start looking now. That one in your bottom pic is a roo.
Those with bigger, redder combs and crowing? Those are your for sure boys.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Actually, at a young age comb size and color can be the only accurate indicator of gender. The ones in your pictures are cockerels.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! The cockerels are really cute when they start 'crowing'... those strangled sounds they make. First one note, then two, then finally something that could be an actual crow! Chicks with an adult cock to emulate learn it faster too.
Sorry that they aren't all the pullets she planned to have. Mary

 

[MLeon]

Actually, at a young age comb size and color can be the only accurate indicator of gender. The ones in your pictures are cockerels.

We have 5 with red combs and 5 with nothing. So those with combs Arévalo possibly all cockerels?!?!?

Actually, at a young age comb size and color can be the only accurate indicator of gender. The ones in your pictures are cockerels.

Thank you for your reply! We have 5 with distinct red combs and 5 with nothing. Is it safe to assume we may have 5 cockerels in our group?!?!?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I might be seeing six cockerels in there. One in the front has a more pale comb but it's pretty big.

Sure you didn't get straight run accidentally? That's pretty bad for all pullets...

 

[MLeon]

I might be seeing six cockerels in there. One in the front has a more pale comb but it's pretty big.

Sure you didn't get straight run accidentally? That's pretty bad for all pullets...

This is an educational project through a county program. It’s for egg laying hens, but it seems everyone participating has more than 1 cockerel, judging by those fast growing combs. We were told 1 in 10 was possible, but half of them may well mean straight run! The students are supposed to auction their top 3, that means she may have to choose from a pool of 4-5 instead of 10.

 

[MidnightMaran]

I also saw a probable six boys. We got two Buff Orpington chicks. They are about 4 1/2 months old now, definitely girls and have tiny combs. They also are the only chicks out of 8 that turned out to be girls.

 

[MLeon]

I also saw a probable six boys. We got two Buff Orpington chicks. They are about 4 1/2 months old now, definitely girls and have tiny combs. They also are the only chicks out of 8 that turned out to be girls.View attachment 1178330 View attachment 1178331

So pretty! I’ve seen pics of hens with larger and brighter combs than yours. Is it possible some of my “seem to be cockarels” are just pullets developing faster? I’ve only identified 2 crowers...