Ut Oh! I think I got a Roo! *Many Pics*

[Connorrm]

So here is the culprit. Came out of the "red pullets" bin at TSC. WAY bigger than all my other chicks (including the Sp. Sussex that I know for sure is a Roo boy) plus a very lightly pink color coming in and I think I"m seeing wattles! Estimated Hatch Date of 4/24 or 4/25:

Also, seems to have a lot of neat pattern to it for a production red.

And here's one of my favorite speckled sussex girl. She runs to my hand the second it comes in the brood and just sits in it. So, I always pick her up and she perches on my fingers for a neck and back massage! 99% sure she's a pullet. I have 7 other Sp. Sussex the boys have pink tinges to their combs and wattles coming in already!

 

[ninabeast]

The chick in question looks just like my three Production Red chicks, feather-wise. They're ten days older than yours. I bought them as pullets, but one is a roo. I began to suspect in the second week when s/he was so much slower to feather than the other two (although s/he was much smaller). The comb is MUCH more pronounced than the other two now. Here's how s/he (oh, who am I kidding...HE) looked two days ago, at 5 weeks.

His tail is also different than the other two; the feathers are long and pointed, rather than poofy and rounded. And that's how Ruby became Rudy.

 

[billfields]

Are production reds sex linked..or only used to make sex links?

 

[CayuseRanch]

I would say that your PR is a pullet. They do grow much faster because they are hybrid

 

[ninabeast]

I agree. It looks much more like my two pullets than my roo. And I don't think Production Reds are sex linked because, if they were, I wouldn't have a (^@&$^%*@^&^!!!!) roo.

 

[Connorrm]

Ahh okay - guess she's just an early maturer - good to know. Just really towers over the other chicks and they all started off the same size when I got them.

What about all the black speckling/lacing. Is that normal? I guess I pictured them being more solid red colored.

 

[rhs7111]

Would you mind posting photos of your Speckled Sussex roos? I have one SS about the same age as yours and I'm questioning gender. Your photos would be helpful for comparison. Thanks!

 

[Connorrm]

RHS - Let me run down and snap a few photos for you

 

[Connorrm]

Here are my "roo" Sp. Sussex - well that's what I think they are anyway. They have a bright pink coming in and wattles forming where others don't. They also seem very thick in the legs.

I really love my chicks they are so stinkin' friendly!

Like I said, I feel like I can really see the pinkish/red coming in the "roos" that seems to be lacking in all my other chicks. Plus, the wattles

 

[rhs7111]

Thanks so much for posting your photos! I have to say, though, that with the possible exception of the last chick, I really think you have pullets.