At what age does a red comb not indicate rooster?

[arrowti]

I know this is a strange question but hear me out.

On my first batch of broody hatched chicks (only 2) the now 10 week old chicks sported red combs at 3 weeks old and red wattles starting at 5 weeks. One is VERY clearly a rooster and the other is very likely a rooster, just lacking the behavior still.

Our second batch had 7 chicks and 2 sported red combs at 3 weeks and began developing red wattles at 5 weeks. They are 6 weeks old now and two of them, over the past three days now have red combs (no wattles). I'm slightly worried because the other 3 chicks still don't have red combs but also because these two chicks are absolutely beautiful and I don't have space for 7 roosters...

These are mixed breeds. Crossed with a mixed rooster (he was a fast grower himself) and either rhode island red (production reds) and easter eggers. If I had to guess these birds are all fast growers but given how long it's been since I raised chicks (3 years!), I can't quite compare their growth with former chicks.

So basically: how worried should I be at red combs on chicks at 6 weeks old when the roosters developed red combs at 3 weeks?

 

[Folly's place]

How about posting some pictures? It can be difficult to decide sometimes, and late developing cockerels do complicate things, often.
Mary

 

[arrowti]

I'll try. I wasn't able to get any pictures now because they're STILL hiding under mom in the corner of the coop. Hopefully I can tomorrow. These chicks are extremely skittish.

 

[alexa009]

Yes, pictures would be of great help! I have 7 week old chicks with extremely red combs and little wattles who have turned out be laying hens.

 

[Folly's place]

They can be moving targets and difficult to photograph!
Mary

 

[arrowti]

Yeah! And my phone just isn't a great picture taking tool... the pictures look great on my phone, but when I upload them they are always blurry!

Fortunately I found my camera and its chargers and it takes great distance photos so hopefully I'll have some nice pictures to see tomorrow after work.

 

[arrowti]

Lots of pictures incoming! Sorry for the delay. My laptop's card reader refused to work so I needed to use another computer and email them to me.

Comparison: 10 Week Old Cockerels

This is Red. He's beautiful, with obvious cockerel traits starting at 3 weeks. There was no doubt he was a rooster. He started crowing this morning (or attempting, anyway)! You can see his brother's head behind him.

White has less rooster behaviors, no crowing yet, and no rooster-squacking when a predatory bird flies overhead. White is also mean and pecks a lot. Two back toes and a stubby little tail. That tail keeps throwing me off.

6 Week Old Chicks!!

The two in question, actually. On the right it appears the wattles have started to form. Also those red patches worry me, but I don't know if these are EE offspring or RIR offspring. And since I don't know the breed(s) of the mixed rooster it's hard to say what they are.

A pullet. At least, I hope so. The comb was yellow yesterday, I swear! This morning it was pink. She looks just like an old hen we used to have (a younger version of course).

Another shot of the three already shown. Middle one is the one I adore. Just look at that coloring!

This is one of the two chicks who had pink combs at 3 weeks.

In the middle of the two black/whites is the second cockerel who had pink comb at 3 weeks. He's gorgeous.

I just checked on them and the other three are also getting pink combs.

 

[Folly's place]

You do have some nice looking cockerels! Your 'brown' bird does look like a pullet, and the others, cockerels.
Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The first and second birds (1st photo) are definitely cockerels. You can even see the start of their spurs.