Young Roo: Feathering Questions

[BayAreaMike408]

My young Roo- he’s 13 weeks old purchased as a female green queen- missexed.

we’re not able to keep him; city law prevents it, but we were lucky to find a good new home for him. Before I drop him off, I was hoping for one last round of confirmations he’s a boy.
His hackle and saddle feathers started ‘changing colors’. They’ve lightened specifically around the backside of the neck and he’s no longer solid grey. He’s also much bigger than the others. I assume this is 100% boy confirmation? I’ve never had a missexed day old and this is our first rooster so I’m trying to learn the signs while he’s still here and I can look closer at him.
He’s going to be a beauty.

 

[The Happster]

You can drop him off with no worries, he's 100% a cockerel.

 

[JadeFarms]

Definitely a cockerel.

 

[BayAreaMike408]

You can drop him off with no worries, he's 100% a cockerel.

Thanks. Is the changing of the feather colors around his neck a male specific trait?

 

[ChunkyBirb]

definitely a boy!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Yes, cockerel.
What your looking at is here.

For the age, the comb is large and red, a cockerel trait. Pullets won't turn red and bright until they're ready to lay; between 16-20 weeks or later.

His hackle (neck) feathers are already starting to get the elongated flowyness that cockerels have.

His wing bars are nice and dark, this is a male color pattern, not female. You can see it better in the first pic you posted.

The two circles over his rump and under his wing... I've circled male specific saddle feathers coming in. Females have saddle feathers too, but they're rounded and puffy. Males have long, pointed and flowy saddle feathers.

 

[Johnny17]

Yes, I'm sorry. Definitely a cockerel

 

[BayAreaMike408]

@Frazzemrat1 thank you for posting. It’s exactly what I was hoping for, so that I can learn going forward.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

@Frazzemrat1 thank you for posting. It’s exactly what I was hoping for, so that I can learn going forward.

I forgot to mention that adult saddle feathers don't start coming in until around 12 weeks, so your next batch of chicks... don't start looking for those until after they've gotten older. The earliest signs of cockerels are bright red combs before 12 weeks.