Is this chick gonna be a rooster??

[Issosilly]

So i recieved an extra chick in my order from Mf healthy hatchery. So i revieved 2 different Lavender orpingtons. Both were hatched on 7/1/25 so theyre the same age. I noticed one had much longer feathers than the other but when i called the hatchery they told me i was sent an extra female since i ordered females. I understand that feather length could determine sex. I would like opinions as my area does not allow for roosters. Below are my chicks

 

[HappyClucker7]

Feather length is not indicative of sex. You will have to wait until the chick is around 6-8 weeks old to positively determine the sex.

 

[redinator]

They're too young to say. Around 4-6 weeks the males will get larger darker combs than the pullets. Some people can tell a chicks gender after they're fully feathered (6 weeks +) by feather color patterns. Gender specific feathers (hackle/saddle/tail) don't start to come in until around 12 weeks of age.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Feather length is not indicative of sex. You will have to wait until the chick is around 6-8 weeks old to positively determine the sex.

X2. Plus way too young.

 

[Issosilly]

They're too young to say. Around 4-6 weeks the males will get larger darker combs than the pullets. Some people can tell a chicks gender after they're fully feathered (6 weeks +) by feather color patterns. Gender specific feathers (hackle/saddle/tail) don't start to come in until around 12 weeks of age.

Gotcha, just because most of the others in the batch are feathering out much faster the two slower ones are that lav and my light brahma but brahmas i understand feather out slower than most breeds. I just been overthinking it after noticing cause he/she is such a sweet chicken so friendly but my area doesnt allow roosters so i would have to rehome it if that were the case but appreciate the input!

 

[redinator]

Gotcha, just because most of the others in the batch are feathering out much faster the two slower ones are that lav and my light brahma but brahmas i understand feather out slower than most breeds. I just been overthinking it after noticing cause he/she is such a sweet chicken so friendly but my area doesnt allow roosters so i would have to rehome it if that were the case but appreciate the input!

Enjoy them now, panic later, lol. I just raised a cockerel heavy batch of RIR. The best you can hope for is if they are males they'll be nice enough someone will want them.

 

[Issosilly]

They're too young to say. Around 4-6 weeks the males will get larger darker combs than the pullets. Some people can tell a chicks gender after they're fully feathered (6 weeks +) by feather color patterns. Gender specific feathers (hackle/saddle/tail) don't start to come in until around 12 weeks of age.

update: So far the chicks feathers seem to be coming in just much slower but i am still noticing a distinct lack of tail feathers compared to the rest of the batch.

 

[nuthatched]

That's more of an old wives tale than fact, just wait.

 

[Issosilly]

That's more of an old wives tale than fact, just wait.

Makes enough since i ordered it from a hatchery with 90% rate and was told they send a female. I guess i got the idea in my head that it could possibly be a roo based off whats ive seen online and now im freaking out

 

[nuthatched]

Makes enough since i ordered it from a hatchery with 90% rate and was told they send a female. I guess i got the idea in my head that it could possibly be a roo based off whats ive seen online and now im freaking out

Why? If it's a cockerel, just rehome or give away for food. It's that simple.
Size, feathers, wings, spurs, tail, behavior etc are not indications of sex.
90% is pretty good, and it's to be expected for a few mistakes occasionally.

I've never recieved a accidentally male from Mt Healthy.