10 week old Black Australorps

[jewelonile]

We adopted our first chicken family a couple months ago. Had a great time with my son and husband building our coop and run. We purchased 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Black Australorps. They are all supposed to be female and hatched on same day. They are growing well and seem happy.

My question is about the Black Asutralorps. They are both approximately 10 weeks old, but their shape and demeanor is quite different. I am wondering if one is a cockerel or if they are actually different breeds. Or perhaps they are just very different.

Onyx has always been very curious and brave. She comes when she hears my voice. She has white-ish feet and a few white spots at the tips of wing feathers. (can only see when she spreads out her wings).

Vader is skittish and not very friendly (pecks at me when I get close). She has yellowish feet.

Thanks in advance for quenching my curiosity!

Here they are together:
The one on the left (Vader) has a much longer and fanned tail. The one on right (Onyx) has a rounded tail.


Profile of Vader (on left):

Profile of Onyx:


Close up of Vader (she is difficult to get close to):

One more of Vader:


close up of Onyx:


close up of Onyx's tail and back:

 

[ellie32526]

We adopted our first chicken family a couple months ago. Had a great time with my son and husband building our coop and run. We purchased 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 2 Barred Rocks, and 2 Black Australorps. They are all supposed to be female and hatched on same day. They are growing well and seem happy.

My question is about the Black Asutralorps. They are both approximately 10 weeks old, but their shape and demeanor is quite different. I am wondering if one is a cockerel or if they are actually different breeds. Or perhaps they are just very different.

Onyx has always been very curious and brave. She comes when she hears my voice.
Vader is skittish and not very friendly.

Thanks in advance for quenching my curiosity!

Here they are together:
The one on the left (Vader) has a much longer and fanned tail. The one on right (Onyx) has a rounded tail.


Profile of Vader (on left):

Profile of Onyx:


Close up of Vader (she is difficult to get close to):

One more of Vader:


close up of Onyx:


close up of Onyx's tail and back:

I have five BAs and yours look like my girls. I don't have a BA roo, My roos are a New Hampshire Red and a Partridge Cochin so I can't really say what the BA roos look like or how to tell them apart specifically. But I did notice my roos combs were bigger, (grew sooner) than the hens, it looks like yours are both girls because their combs are similar but I'm not sure you can bank on that . The best advice I got was - If it lays an egg it is a hen, if it doesn't it is a roo. ~~LOL You can tell they are preparing to lay when their combs turn cherry red. Sorry I can't be more help. But I would vote both are hens. Also, My BAs have their own little quirks (personalities) After a while you will begin to see other behavioral differences in them as well. Some are just more friendly, some recognize you are the food source and come because of that, others come because they want to be with you. I have a White Rock who runs to greet me every time I go out to the yard. She follows me around like a puppy the whole time I am in the yard. Of course it could be that she wants to be close enough to enjoy the grubs and other yummy treats I toss their way when I find them.

 

[jewelonile]

Ellie32526,

Thanks for the response!

 

[Veer67]

I agree, they all lookalike pullets.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Pullets is my vote too!