Another Lavender Orpington sexing question.

[Finnie]

Is there any hope at all that these are pullets?

Supposedly 16-18 weeks old. I got them last night from somebody I know. She couldn’t remember when they were hatched, but knew it was “spring”. So I was thinking, 6 months old, pullets getting close to laying, no big deal if combs are getting red. But this morning seeing them running around loose in daylight, I don’t think they are anywhere near 6 months old. So I asked her to find out the hatch date, and it turns out she bought them on July 30th, and the breeder said “6-8 weeks old”. That puts them at 16-18 weeks now.

That gives me some hope, but I just went out and took photos for this thread, and I see male saddle feathers coming in on the one with the smaller comb.

So, what do any of you Orpington experts think?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I'm leaning towards both being pullets although not too sure on the one that is closest to the camera on the last photo

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Looks like they have shredded feathers, which is a genetic fault associated with the self blue or lavender color. I do not see any definitive saddle feathers.

 

[black_cat]

At 16-18 weeks I'd say pullets. Lav orps are VERY early combers.

 

[Finnie]

I'm leaning towards both being pullets although not too sure on the one that is closest to the camera on the last photo

Looks like they have shredded feathers, which is a genetic fault associated with the self blue or lavender color. I do not see any definitive saddle feathers.

At 16-18 weeks I'd say pullets. Lav orps are VERY early combers.

Oh, bless you all!!

I will tell my friend there is still hope.

She had a 3rd one running around last night that I was positive was a boy, so I didn’t buy him. That should have triggered me to suspect these of being boys too, but I just thought they were pullets so I didn’t think too hard about it.

It won’t be the first time I’ve been wrong. I want these for my chocolate orpington cockerel, who was supposed to be a pullet when I bought him. I’ve got to stop going around town collecting peoples cockerels! I’ve already got too many of my own to try to sell.

 

[Araucana Nest]

I'm no expert.... but the one on the left in the first photo looks like a cockerel.

 

[The Happster]

A pair.

 

[black_cat]

I'm no expert.... but the one on the left in the first photo looks like a cockerel.

Looking closer I have to agree Saddles.

 

[Finnie]

I'm no expert.... but the one on the left in the first photo looks like a cockerel.

Well it wouldn’t surprise me. That’s the one when I opened the coop this morning my first thought was “A cockerel?! Crap!”

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I really, honestly, can’t tell.