We just got two young plymouth rocks, and were told that they are both female. However one is much taller and leaner then the other, now that they are older (probably 5 months old). But, the tall one still doesn't have spurs, or big tail feathers, although its comb is much redder then the other smaller chicken. At what age will we be able to tell one hundred percent that it is a rooster? or not?
That depends on the breed, color type, and how experienced one is at sexing poultry. Sometimes poultry can be sexes at one day of age, and sometimes it takes a while longer. If you ever seen a silkie, they are a pain in the butt to sex.
Just curious what color are your Plymouth Rocks? If they are Barred, then they are sex linked.
Females will have blackish legs, more dominate looking black bars, and when young have a more collected white dot on their head.
Males will have mostly yellow legs, more dominate white looking bars and when you have a scattered white dot on their head.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
The Partridge and Silver Penciled Rock genders can be determined as soon as their feathers grow in, as males will have a black breast.
A general standard for sexing by color is males will be blotchy, and females will have smooth colors that flow into each other.
If dealing with other colors, then you are going to have to sex by another means.
Comb/wattle. Females develop slower then males, and never get as large. A hen will turn red shortly before she lays, a male can turn red at a very young age.
Hackle-these are the neck feathers. On a rooster they will get shinny, as well as pointed.
Saddle-three are the near the tail feathers, on a rooster they will also get shinny, and pointed. They also curve slightly with the birds body.
Tail-males will grow curved tail feathers, females will be straight.
Feathering-It is often that the female will feather out more rapidly then the males,
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Body shape-males have a bit of a stupid misfit look while they grow, while the girls body tends to grow in the correct proportions.
Best wishes,
Jamie/Rhoderunner
Could you post a photo it would help to see the birds.
A lot depends on the breed, I hatched some chicks in mid April (Light Sussex type crosses) and could tell the roosters at 9 weeks due to tail feather development and one crowed for the first time at the poultry market I was selling them at!
I have 3 Brahmas which hatched on 5 May and I am still not certain what they are, I think one is a hen but the other 2 I'm not sure, they have no tail feathers really and are a very slow maturing breed. Just have to wait and see, sooner or later the roosters crow and the pullets start to lay.
