Where to look for hackle and tail feathers

[haileyeverhart]

View attachment 1327584
This guy is roughly 5 weeks in the picture. See the comb on HIM! View attachment 1327586A female from the same hatch. View attachment 1327587The same male from the first picture almost 3 months and still no saddle or hackle feathers. The male in the background is starting to show some hackle feathers. View attachment 1327598 I include this one because he was my sleeper cockeral. The comb isn't anywhere near as red as the other males yet the saddle feathers are a giveaway. At 14 weeks he showed his true form much latter then his brothers.

So helpful! Thank you! Makes more sense now.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Attitude can also be a hint. The cockeral in the background that I mentioned is Trouble. I started calling him that when I first thought he was a boy. Didn't have the really red comb or big thick legs. (He's still rather slim) But he had attitude. Very curious and unafraid. A little boisterous. He's a sweet boy now who is good with me and the girls.