When is the latest you have seen male feathers come in?

[Sortacountrychicken]

I know that three months is a pretty common age to be 100% certain based on feather development. I have a chick that is 15 weeks old tomorrow and a few different things make me think cockerel but it still does not have male feathering. I also have mature roosters in my flock which I know can slow development. What is the latest you would wait to see male feathering before saying it is just a masculine pullet? I am thinking cockerel based on behavior towards me. It is a bit aggressive towards me, just like his father. Comb is small but pink, which in my flock means male even at this age. My flock is all mixed breeds a few generations in and the pullets don't develop any color until about five months of age. This chick had a pink comb by four weeks.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I know that three months is a pretty common age to be 100% certain based on feather development. I have a chick that is 15 weeks old tomorrow and a few different things make me think cockerel but it still does not have male feathering. I also have mature roosters in my flock which I know can slow development. What is the latest you would wait to see male feathering before saying it is just a masculine pullet? I am thinking cockerel based on behavior towards me. It is a bit aggressive towards me, just like his father. Comb is small but pink, which in my flock means male even at this age. My flock is all mixed breeds a few generations in and the pullets don't develop any color until about five months of age. This chick had a pink comb by four weeks.

Post some good clear photos.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Oh and to answer your question, by 16 weeks.

 

[JedJackson]

It depends on a lot of factors including breed, nutrition, individual development rate, place in the pecking order, and health. 7 to 8 months is not unheard of and I am sure some are later than that.

 

[Sortacountrychicken]

Oh and to answer your question, by 16 weeks.

It depends on a lot of factors including breed, nutrition, individual development rate, place in the pecking order, and health. 7 to 8 months is not unheard of and I am sure some are later than that.

Okay. Thank you. I don't have recent photos as we have had bad storms for the past few days but I might be able to take some this evening.

 

[Sortacountrychicken]

Here is the bird in question

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Here is the bird in question
View attachment 2817186

This bird looks female to me.

 

[Sortacountrychicken]

This is a pullet from my flock for reference at the same age. The facial development is really throwing me off as I have had cockerels from my flock with less development at this age. But I agree that this bird seems very female.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Here is the bird in question
View attachment 2817186

Pullet

 

[Painted Calls]

Here is the bird in question
View attachment 2817186

This is a pullet.