I'm new here 
We have had chickens for about 15 years (small flock of 6-8) but it's been a while since we brooded babies and I feel like I'm learning everything all over again.
We have 7 1-week-olds (mixed -- 2 Isbars, 1 New Hamp, 1 EE, 1 OE, 1 Choc Orp, and 1 Barnevelder). I was reading up on feather sexing at 1 week, and am confused... It only works for certain breeds, right? Or is there a general "two rows of feathers on wings = pullet, 1 row = cockerel" that can offer clues? 5 of them have longer wings with two rows and wee tail feathers. But two of them -- the choc orp, and the barnie -- have been slower to grow out feathers, and their stubby wings look like single rows. They are smaller. No tail feathers. But are they just slower to mature? Not having same-breed siblings, I don't have anything to compare them to. Have you had slow-maturing chicks with stubby 1-row wing feathers who turn out to be pullets?
I know I'll need to just wait another couple months, and that's OK. Just curious about wing feathers and slower growth. (And half-wondering if I can sneak out and get a few more babies without my husband noticing with the rationale that if I do have two roosters, I need to add two or 10 more pullets to lay. At the same time I'm reminding myself that next year at this time I'll want to be adding some so I should just be patient and these two could be pullets. It's like there's a chicken angel on one shoulder and a chicken devil on the other... )
We have had chickens for about 15 years (small flock of 6-8) but it's been a while since we brooded babies and I feel like I'm learning everything all over again. We have 7 1-week-olds (mixed -- 2 Isbars, 1 New Hamp, 1 EE, 1 OE, 1 Choc Orp, and 1 Barnevelder). I was reading up on feather sexing at 1 week, and am confused... It only works for certain breeds, right? Or is there a general "two rows of feathers on wings = pullet, 1 row = cockerel" that can offer clues? 5 of them have longer wings with two rows and wee tail feathers. But two of them -- the choc orp, and the barnie -- have been slower to grow out feathers, and their stubby wings look like single rows. They are smaller. No tail feathers. But are they just slower to mature? Not having same-breed siblings, I don't have anything to compare them to. Have you had slow-maturing chicks with stubby 1-row wing feathers who turn out to be pullets?
I know I'll need to just wait another couple months, and that's OK. Just curious about wing feathers and slower growth. (And half-wondering if I can sneak out and get a few more babies without my husband noticing with the rationale that if I do have two roosters, I need to add two or 10 more pullets to lay. At the same time I'm reminding myself that next year at this time I'll want to be adding some so I should just be patient and these two could be pullets. It's like there's a chicken angel on one shoulder and a chicken devil on the other... )
