UPDATED!! Does He have SADDLE FEATHERS?!?! (pic heavy)

[Anjeey]

So I am at about 12 weeks into Operation Chicken Eggs and I am about 90% convinced that I actually have all pullets. Please disregard the date on these pictures, my camera reset itself. These were taken earlier today 09/28/10.

If any of you would be so kind as to humor me once again....can I get a pullet/roo vote for my birds?

Thank you

- Twiggy, was a suspected Roo... feathering much more slowly than the others and is about a week younger

- better shot of the tail feathers, going with pullet however. What do you guys think?

- Gertie, I'm sure she's a pullet.

- Betty, I'm sure she's a pullet.

- Gertie (front), Betty (not front) These two are the big bosses of the flock.

- Estelle, I'm sure she's a pullet. She is the third in command.

- Lizzie Borden, I'm sure she's a pullet. And very hard to get a good picture of.

- Just for fun. Giving Gertie her pets. She <3's them. ^.^

Feedback is appreciated.
Thanks again

 

[chick-george]

Twiggy does look a little like a roo to me. The others look girlie though.

 

[Anjeey]

Yeah. So far no one I've asked can gimme a definite. XD Poor Twiggy. Just seems like he/she is growing and feathering out so much more slowly than the others. And his/her comb and wattle started getting pink kind of early too... No crowing by any of them yet. Time will tell I guess.

 

[shandiane78]

I think the first one is a rooster.

 

[Anjeey]

He/she seems to be a bit different-looking than the others. But he/she doesn't act like a rooster either- not flighty but not bold either.

Dunno. This is so funny. XD

Oh and one ques- probably in the wrong forum but the guy at the feed store said I should continue to feed them chick/starter food until they are full-sized or they won't grow.
Is this true? Or should I switch them to regular feed?

I kinda want large birds.


Thanks again.

 

[Anjeey]

These look like saddle feathers to me! Got some good pics! I think I have a roo!!! YAY!

- Look! Aren't these saddle feathers?

- maybe some of the more trained eyes can tell me if he's starting to develop those longish neck-feathers too?

I hope he's a Roo.

Thanks again for any feedback

 

[dsqard]

Not sure about Twiggy but you can leave them on grower food until they start laying. Actually you can keep them on grower food even after that if you offer oyster shell free choice. The extra protien won't hurt.

 

[Illia]

Those aren't saddle feathers (Saddle feathers come in later, are slightly darker in color and usually glossy, also they're VERY pointed) but the Buff one is the only possible cockerel I see there.

 

[Ang]

I have quite a few BO's. In my experience, the pullets can look like roos when they are young. Hold off and let her grow up a bit more before you decide.

*Edited to add-

We started with 80 BO's with the idea that all of the roos would go to freezer camp. When we separated the roos from the pullets they were around 4 months. We still ended up with some roos in the pullet house and some pullets in the roo house. LOL!

 

[silkiechicken]

If you can still see chick feathers and a red comb on the same bird, it's a rooster as far as I'm concerned. The buff is 99% male.