RIR pullets or cockerels?

[Meldan]

Buying chicks around here has been kind of crazy this year, so we ended up buying 4 straight run RIRs because we needed to add to our existing flock. Three of the chicks developed tails early, and one did not. We are really hoping we have pullets and one cockerel. We aren’t allowed to have roosters and I don’t want to introduce one newbie to our older girls alone. Sorry I didn’t get better pics. The pics in the grass are at 6 weeks. The ones in the run are from today. They are 7 weeks. The one with the green band is the one that looks different. There is no noticeable leg size difference in person and all of their combs are pretty similar too.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Unfortunately, those are ALL boys.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I think you have 4 cockerels. They all have large combs for 7 weeks and are quite red. I'm sorry.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I also think some or all might be Western Ranger meat birds, not RIRs.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Unfortunately, I agree these are all roos. And I'm usually the last one to cry cockerel. UNLESS, by some miracle, they're all planning to lay in the next 3-4 weeks and popped their combs early.

 

[Pigeony]

Yup all males

 

[Meldan]

Thanks for all of your replies. Just curious and trying to understand are you saying they are Roos based on their combs? Do you see other signs? We’ve never had RIRs before but our barred rock hens had similar combs at that age. What about the difference in the tails?

 

[Meldan]

I also think some or all might be Western Ranger meat birds, not RIRs.

We got them from TSC and they said they were RIR… if they aren’t, that’s really frustrating. I’ve heard about things like that happening before though.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Thanks for all of your replies. Just curious and trying to understand are you saying they are Roos based on their combs? Do you see other signs? We’ve never had RIRs before but our barred rock hens had similar combs at that age. What about the difference in the tails?

At this age, I always guess based on their combs. I find it to be the easiest and most reliable way.
Looking at pictures of pullets of the same age and breed and comparing them can help as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rir-7-weeks.1520394/ Here is an old thread with a RIR pullet around the same age.