Mixed Breed Bantam Sexing (4 weeks old)

[WeatherWoman1285]

I let my bantams hatch some eggs recently and have been anxiously waiting to determine the sex of the chicks. All of these pictures (except #7) were at 4 weeks old. Number 7 was at about 3 weeks old, but that one is the most identifiable and easiest to get confirmed pictures of. Most of the other 6 are too close in appearance and I was finally able to get help to catch these crazy little kids and photograph them. The contributing parents were 2 hens (partridge cochin and porcelain d'Uccle) and 1 rooster (quail belgian bearded d'Anver). I have my guesses, bur O have essentially no experience. I believe the three I indicated have rose combs.

1. Rooster? (Cochin)
2. Hen? (d'Uccle) - rose comb
3. Rooster? (d'Uccle) - rose comb
4. Hen? (d'Uccle)
5. Rooster? (d'Uccle)
6. Hen? (Cochin) - rose comb
7. Hen? (d'Uccle)

Thanks for any help/insight!

 

[2ndTink]

At 4 weeks, I agree with your cockerel and pullet guesses. You could have another cockerel or two hiding in there that are later bloomers. I just had a bantam that I was sure was a pullet and completely ignored the pointy saddle feathers for about 2 weeks before it finally dawned on me that it was actually a cockerel

They will be easier to tell 8 to 12 weeks old.
Very cute chicks you have!

 

[WeatherWoman1285]

At 4 weeks, I agree with your cockerel and pullet guesses. You could have another cockerel or two hiding in there that are later bloomers. I just had a bantam that I was sure was a pullet and completely ignored the pointy saddle feathers for about 2 weeks before it finally dawned on me that it was actually a cockerel

They will be easier to tell 8 to 12 weeks old.
Very cute chicks you have!

Thanks, that's good to get some feedback! I hope there aren't more than the potential 3 at this point, I'm only planning on keeping one due to my set up and I don't know what I'll do with the rest, I've already reached out to my chicken friends that have bantams and none of them want any more roosters either. Also, with 10 chickens, it really doesn't do much for me to have 4 or more of them be roosters! I don't free range for a few reasons and I don't really have the size to expand the flock more, the coop we have is already a bit iffy for the 10 when these kids are fully grown (very soon).

 

[2ndTink]

Thanks, that's good to get some feedback! I hope there aren't more than the potential 3 at this point, I'm only planning on keeping one due to my set up and I don't know what I'll do with the rest, I've already reached out to my chicken friends that have bantams and none of them want any more roosters either. Also, with 10 chickens, it really doesn't do much for me to have 4 or more of them be roosters! I don't free range for a few reasons and I don't really have the size to expand the flock more, the coop we have is already a bit iffy for the 10 when these kids are fully grown (very soon).

I hear you on space and too many boys! Too many boys together can create too much stress though, so finding somewhere for the extra cockerels will be best, but maybe not easy.

I hatched out 6 bantam Ameraucana and EEs this spring and 4 are boys they are all vaccinated but I do have a Mareks positive flock so no selling them. I either have to make a coop and run for them, or process them, but the bantams are so cute I'm not sure I can do that. I have some cockerels that are mean and ugly large fowl crosses that I will be processing, I have less hang ups about them

 

[miffjcdavis]

Number 5 is a rooster my bantam hatched 12 eggs 2 months ago