Lavender Ameraucana is this a male or female

[mustangsaguaro]

I have a lavender Ameraucana that someone is interested in and they can only have females as they live w/in city limits. Right now it is very hard for me to tell if this is a male or female. I say that because first of all this bird does not have a tail, or rather it's tail feathers are coming in very slowly. Secondly in the past I have thought I've had females and then a few months down the road they turn into males. So I need someone w/ lots of experience that can confirm w/ a 90-95% accuracy they are sure that this is in fact a female bird. This bird is around 3 mos. old. It has a hatch mate that has a complete tail but I'm not sure if the hatch mate is a male or female yet. If a bigger photo is needed I can upload a larger photo.

Thanks

 

[ramirezframing]

need a comb shot

 

[mustangsaguaro]

need a comb shot

I'll see if I can get a comb shot tonight when I lock them up or tomorrow morning and will post. I am thinking female due to the lack or non existence of the hackle feathers. Can't really see any saddle feathers due to the lack of the tail.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

The fact that is doesn't have any tail feathers yet tells me it's a boy but without seeing a comb shot I can't be sure. If you look at the comb real real close and see two or three rows of peas, it's a boy. A small ridge or one tiny row, it's a girl.

Edited to add. Try posting this on the Ameraucana Thread

 

[coolchickens88]

With ameraucana's its hard to tell but looks like a hen cause of her/his tail feathers. But you might have to listen to the other people about the comb. May you have to wait until she lays an egg or not. At 7 months she would start laying

 

[mustangsaguaro]

The fact that is doesn't have any tail feathers yet tells me it's a boy but without seeing a comb shot I can't be sure. If you look at the comb real real close and see two or three rows of peas, it's a boy. A small ridge or one tiny row, it's a girl.

Edited to add. Try posting this on the Ameraucana Thread

Well, the issue here is I've had 2 other birds this year where someone bought a day old chick from me and another person hatched some eggs they had birds w/ no tail feathers develop as well. Both of those birds ended up being males. So I'm kind of thinking this one might be a male, but I don't really see any hackle feathers. That's why I'm thinking female. I will get a pic tomorrow morning and post what the comb looks like.

 

[PekinBantam]

need a comb shot

Agree

 

[mustangsaguaro]

Here is a pic of the comb of this bird. I also have another lavender that has a tail that I'd like you guys to take a look at. I'm thinking female as well but not sure.



Below are photos of the other bird who does have a tail. Need confirmation on male or female.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

All I can say, from my experience, none of my pullets had combs that red at that age. They still don't and are 6 1/2 and 7 months old and are not laying yet. The oldest roo is just starting to get his hackle and saddle feathers. They are very slow to mature and keep you guessing.

 

[mustangsaguaro]

All I can say, from my experience, none of my pullets had combs that red at that age. They still don't and are 6 1/2 and 7 months old and are not laying yet. The oldest roo is just starting to get his hackle and saddle feathers. They are very slow to mature and keep you guessing.

Believe you me I know they are slow to mature. All my Lavender breeding hens from last year didn't start laying until they were 8-9 mos old. But my 2 black splits started laying at 6 mos. Weird. And then both last year and this year I had two birds that I swore were females that ended up being males. It seems like I always end up w/ more males than females. Thank goodness where I live I'm allowed males. But right now I have 7 males w/ I am sure more to come since I have babies. Unless of course I can sell the babies then I don't have to worry about it.