I have RIRs, Australorps, and SLWs. The RIRs and SLWs are supposed to be pullets, and the Australorps are straight run. They're between 1.5 and 4 weeks old now. Are there any tell-tale signs that would make it more obvious?
When they make this horrible, stangling noise that sounds somewhat like a crow. Sometimes you can tell by combs and wattles and feather type and all that, but truthfully, I never believe it until either the chicken crows or pops out an egg. I've had a couple that had me fooled!
the minute it crows thats when I knew my RIR was a roo, I just thought it was a really pretty hen, oops. My first time having chickens
you might have to wait a bit...our australorp "pullet" started making that adorable strangling sound at about 9 weeks. he also had a very pronounced comb and wattles. now he lives on a jesus farm with a bunch of goats. he could have done worse.
I am very new at this, but we ordered 20 pullets and 4 roos (RIR). I have 4 chicks without tail feathers at 2 weeks and those four also have lighter colored wings. They are also the ones who like to climb on top of the waterer. I think those are my roos. The biggest clue being no tail feathers where the others have a bunch.
It is sometimes hard to tell. I usually go by the comb size and the feather growth. They can be tricky though. I have a BLR Wyandotte that is almost a year old and has to be a rooster since it has the pointed feathers near the tail and it has never crowed yet. It acts more like a hen except when it was a chick and bit me. I wonder if he thinks he is a lady.
Interesting about the lack of tail feathers! Mine are 6 days old and there are a couple that peep with purpose, it's a clearer more ringing kind of cheep. Do you think that might mean something or are they just accidentally hitting a frequency that carries better? I got a straight run because I do want a rooster or two (I have 20 total) but I hope I don't have lots of roosters- I knew that would be a risk when I ordered though! Frances
Quote:I agree 100% because that what I was reading just yesterday, I have 26 pullets right now and I am praying not to have any rooster among them. Omran
With alot of breeds, the secondary sex characteristics start showing themselves at 4 to 6 weeks old. Another clue can be the differences in feathering out, as already noted. I used this as my guide and was able to tell my brahma boys from my brahma girls at 5 weeks old: According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program. 2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age) a. Comb The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish. b. Legs The cockerels legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter. c. Tail The cockerels tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight. d. Back The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back. e. Side of neck, flank and crop The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced. f. Wing bows In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers. **Keep in mind that I was comparing chicks of the same breed and not apples to oranges, so to speak.
