Lavender Araucana

[NagemTX]

Bothe are looking like pullets to me still. Ugh so hard to judge sex in these when they are solid colors and not sex dymorphic colors.

 

[JedJackson]

So I have more photos... Labelled the birds 1 and 2. Any more guesses? Bird 1 is supposedly 12 weeks, bird 2 is 10 weeks.

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They're not looking like cockerels so far, but this type of Araucana can be slow to develop. If the price is right, I'd say it is worth the risk.

 

[sarahg2]

Bothe are looking like pullets to me still. Ugh so hard to judge sex in these when they are solid colors and not sex dymorphic colors.

Fingers crossed! Even silkies weren't this tough!

 

[sarahg2]

They're not looking like cockerels so far, but this type of Araucana can be slow to develop. If the price is right, I'd say it is worth the risk.

I took them both.The breeder doesn't normally let them go until she is 100% sure but she let me take them as I was taking four others (a Silver Dorking, a Salmon Faverolle, a Black Copper Marans and an Olive Egger) of the same age, so would be easier to not have to integrate an Araucana at later date. She basically gave me two, and charged for just one. If one is a cockerel I can return him to her, if both are cockerels I can return them both and get a refund.

At what stage can I be sure? Is there a certain number of weeks by which they would for sure look like a cockerel? Any particular things I should keep an eye out for? Or is it literally a case of until they crow or lay?

 

[JedJackson]

I took them both.The breeder doesn't normally let them go until she is 100% sure but she let me take them as I was taking four others (a Silver Dorking, a Salmon Faverolle, a Black Copper Marans and an Olive Egger) of the same age, so would be easier to not have to integrate an Araucana at later date. She basically gave me two, and charged for just one. If one is a cockerel I can return him to her, if both are cockerels I can return them both and get a refund.

At what stage can I be sure? Is there a certain number of weeks by which they would for sure look like a cockerel? Any particular things I should keep an eye out for? Or is it literally a case of until they crow or lay?

That's a great deal! The main thing to watch are the combs, for rapid growth and coloring. At some point, probably after 12 weeks of age, males cockerels will start getting male specific feathering. I'm going to attach a picture that has both genders, with the male on the right. On the male, you will see very narrow, pointing feathers that look a bit like icicles falling on each side of the saddle area (lower back) and also at the hackle (neck). If you see this type of feather coming in, you'll know you have a male. But the feathers come in slowly, so it can take a while to be sure.

 

[NagemTX]

Usually you get crowing before the male feathers unless it's a late bloomer.

That was a great deal!

 

[sarahg2]

I'm back again, bird 1 is now 15 weeks, bird 2 is now 13 weeks. I've been awake for a week and bird 1 has developed some saddle feathers over the past week, so maybe they will help. Still no crowing, but some updated photos - not ideal as they'd just been drenched! Any improved guesses?!

 

[Jener8or]

The saddle feathers don't look pointy to me, so I think they are still both looking like pullets.

 

[JedJackson]

The combs are small and pale, and no sign of male specific feathering, which usually starts coming in at 12 weeks. I agree that both are females.

 

[sarahg2]

The combs are small and pale, and no sign of male specific feathering, which usually starts coming in at 12 weeks. I agree that both are females.

I don't think I'll believe it if I get that lucky. At what age do pullets' combs usually start to turn red? I just don't want to panic if it starts happening!

Although knowing my luck they'll both crow tomorrow