Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[Donna C]

My orpington is really beginning to look like a cockerel I can't seem to get any photo's on but she does alot of strutting and displaying although only about 12/13 weeks old. she also does alot of deep, grumbling noises instead of the light little clucks her sister does. Is there anyway i can tell and if she is a he how would i go about intergrating her sister with another? pritty sure breeder will exchange, well said she would. but she is only 12/13 weeks old so is it sooner the better? She is much bigger and has larger comb etc. can anyone help me

[Olly]

It's hard to gauge just from what you've said without a picture, but if s/he is developing very differently from the other hen, and displaying significantlydifferent characteristics, then you may have answered the question yourself. If you're going to exchange, then I'd do it sooner rather than later. Why not speak to the breeder, they may be able to identify clearly whether it's a cockerel or not as they will be familiar with the breed.

[Plum]

My wyandotte girls voices broke at about that age and they do a lot of displaying among themselves, just sorting out pecking order and practising ready for taking on the older girls So don't worry too much yet.

Guess the bigger comb is a male sign and has she thick legs and upright stance, curly feathers and pointed hackles.

[scarlettohara]

Mine too - I have 3 pekins that age and it's like Rocky in their WIR Lots of strutting and squaring upto each other and my wyandotte who is about 17 weeks has started to get a much deeper voice but she is definitely a girl

[Donna C]

thanks to you all, she has got thicker longer legs. or is other girl just really small? we are really hoping for a girl as got attached but i know needs to be sooner rather then later. am going to contact breeder. any tips if do need to change as only got eglu go . she also seems less happy to be handled where as other girl follows me everywhere.

[LJ's Chooks]

We had a very similar situTuation with our first two orps. We had ours from 6 weeks and lived in denial for some time as we weren't sure. But it became very clear that we had a boy by about 15 weeks. He developed a growl and sounded like he had a sore throat.

What sort of orp are they? Mocha developed a gold mane after shedding baby neck feathers and started to crow quietly at about 20 weeks. By then we had totally fallen for his funny little ways. Fortunately we spoke with our neighbours and they are fine with us keeping (for now) him... And there are several others locally too.

Have a look at the shape of their neck feathers too... Very thin and pointed for a boy, more rounded for a girl... Typically.

 

Good luck. If you can post a photo that would help too.

[Donna C]

neck feathers seem to have a slight sloss to them? please let this be a girl, but think i'm in denial

[Donna C]

The news is in, she's a girl . So glad cos now we can keep her.