Roo or Ruse?

[thecatumbrella]

Mottled Pekin Bantams, 3 weeks and 4 days old. Noticed the redness at the base of Clover's comb at 3 weeks on the dot. Hasn't changed much since then. She also has more redness in her brand new wattles (or whatever passes as a wattle at this age) compared to her sisters.

Color is the only difference in comb/wattles, not size or growth. Clover is the slowest to feather out as well. Comparison photos of Clover and Hornet attached.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

It's too early to say for sure, but I'm leaning pullet. Pekin/Cochin cockerels usually get big red combs and wattles very early.

 

[thecatumbrella]

It's been a week and I still have no idea what's going on. I want to believe I have a pullet, @HorseGirlAbby, but now I'm starting to suspect the whole bunch of mottled pekins! Mind taking another look?

We're at 4 weeks and 4 days.

I'm also attaching a photo of my calico pekin, Dandelion. She has what I would expect a pullet's comb to look like. Clover is the biggest red flag, but all the mottled pekins have varying degrees of red running down the side of their combs. Dandelion (the calico) and Hornet (the mottled) are fully feathered on their bodies, whereas Clover and Flora are still kind of scraggly (if that matters).

 

[WingItRanch]

Nothing is screaming male at this point so I would lean pullets for all.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I’m leaning pullets as well, still! Their combs are all quite small, about the size of my pullets’ combs, who are just over five weeks. It is a bit early, but I would be quite surprised if a cockerel snuck in there.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Nothing is screaming male at this point so I would lean pullets for all.

I want so bad for this to be true! She doesn't act very cockerel-like. The other chicks are so rough and tumble, but Clover just kind of keeps out of the fray. She's also tentative of things that the other chicks love (like poop scoop, or the empty water bottle they play with). So if she does become a rooster, she'll probably suck at her job.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Their combs are all quite small, about the size of my pullets’ combs, who are just over five weeks.

Any chance you have the same breed? I'm wicked curious to see if it's just a mottled thing with the redness at the base. The calico pekins look 100% pullet. And it's just like you said, the size of their combs look normal (and they don't have any redness in the flesh itself).

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Any chance you have the same breed? I'm wicked curious to see if it's just a mottled thing with the redness at the base. The calico pekins look 100% pullet. And it's just like you said, the size of their combs look normal (and they don't have any redness in the flesh itself).

Nope, I’ve got Delawares. Their combs are also a bit red at the base, but they’re nowhere near cockerel red.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Nope, I’ve got Delawares. Their combs are also a bit red at the base, but they’re nowhere near cockerel red.

Maybe it's a white-headed thing then? I'm glad it's not just my chicks. I'm starting to feel like a crazy person staring at combs!