CheekyPekins Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hello.... We've hatched some bantam Araucana chicks which are now approx. 13 weeks old. We've got one definite cockerel - he's been cock-a-doodling for a couple of weeks and keeps trying it on with the hen who hatched them, thankfully she's completely unrelated to them... We've got 2 who I'm pretty sure are hens but I've got one who I'm not so certain about. There's been no clearing of throat or other attempts at crowing or any of the "other" boy behaviour, so I'm hoping she's a hen - can you look at the picture and let me know if it's a girl or whether we've got another boy, who's a bit slow to catch up? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Oh eek - I'm not sure what's happened to the picture, it was a whole chicken when i posted it, not just a tail..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 That's ok, it's just too wide for the forum. People can click on it and it will open your photobucket in a new window. For what it's worth I'm going with 'girl' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Pretty sure its a girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I've just double checked those curly back feathers on my bantam Araucana, Lola, and they are the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Brilliant - that's 3 votes for "girl" so far I'm hoping to keep her (?) as she's so pretty, so I'm glad others think she's a girl too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I would guess at male, those tail feathers look like they are going to curve and there is a sweep in the saddle area In every batch of youngsters you get a very advanced male and any other males often fall below the radar until that male is removed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Eek Redwing, that's exactly what I was worrying about... I had a feeling that "she" looked a bit boyish around the back end but I was hoping that, as little grey (as the definite cockerel is currently known) had been crowing for a couple of weeks, this one would be displaying some more cockerelly signs by now... This one's got a much less prominent comb than my known cockerel though, so with that and the lack of doodling, I was holding out hope Ah well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Out of interest, can anyone let me know whether the second cockerel is likely to start crowing straight away once the first cockerel is removed..? Or do I get grace period...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I agree with Redwing about the feathering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yep, I'd say male too. I've found that Araucanas can sometimes be late to develop/sex. LBB had one which couldn't decide for the best part of a year and veered between doing 'male stuff' and laying the odd egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I did not know that you could get black araucanas! i thought they were all grey/blue like mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 Heehee heth1986 - I had a blue (cockerel), a lavender and 3 black Araucanas in this hatch - so they definitely do exist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Yes I have found my Geeno blue to be a slow maturer - she is a hybrid from an aracuana and white star - and didn't until about 24/5 weeks old. That's the longest I've ever had to wait for an egg but my pretty blue eggs are worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
