My greatest fear with the Meaty Cluckers, aside from the obvious “eaten by something” concerns once they get older and are outside, is that one/some will turn out to be surprise roosters. I have nothing against roosters – they protect their flocks and help make adorable babies, and are beyond stunning – but we are not permitted to have one in our zone, so surprise roosters are not something we’ll be able to keep, and my poor lil heart will be broken.
ANYWAY, because of this concern, I am constantly checking them for signs they’re secret he/hims. I’ve read every blog, and forum, and looked for breed comparisons at specific ages, and everything basically says “wait until they either crow or lay an egg to be certain,” but WHO AM I to be that patient? I’m not.
The ones I’m currently concerned about:
Cutie Pot Pie – She has a massive comb compared to all of the others, and it’s already ridged for her pleasure. But I looked up development of Leghorns, and by all accounts it’s pretty normal for both sexes of leghorn chicks to grow quickly and develop large combs. Apparently, by week 4, the combs will either start to turn red or won’t, and we’ll be able to know for “sure.” Behaviorally, nothing about her screams rooster – she is the most hand-shy of the group, and freaks out when you try to pick her up (once picked up, she’s fine, but when she sees the hand coming she runs around in circles). She is not confident at all. That being said she just kinda LOOKS like a rooster.
Carly – Carly is my favorite, and I’ve heard that the favorite often turns out to be a rooster, so already I’m on edge. She is the first one to hop on my hand and loves to perch on us and is the friendliest by far. She also has started developing the slightest hint of wattles, which feels so early to me! She is also bigger than her same-breed sister. I will be crushed if Carly is a rooster. I might have to just gift our neighbors with sound-proof earphones so they can look the other way if that’s the case.
Bubbles – Bubbles has become very confident recently, and is always the first to run to the food when it’s placed out. She’s also been the loudest one since day 1, as well as the smallest, and it kind of seems like there’s rooster potential as a result. She also has a pretty killer side-eye. She developed feathers a little slower than her Delaware sister, which I’ve heard is potentially a rooster trait, too.
Chickaletta- Honestly, not too worried that she’s a rooster, she’s pretty mellow and easy. Does that mean she IS a rooster?
Doorknob – I recently noticed that Doorknob has a pinkish patch next to her beak on one side that is either a healed wound or the start of one side of a wattle. Doorknob is friendly and likes to hang out on shoulders as well, but doesn’t seem like the first to do anything (other than fly out of the coop, since she was first one to fully fly out of the initial brooder!) or a super strong personality.
House – I’m 0% worried that House is a rooster, since she’s a sex link; however, I AM a little worried that she’s a secret turkey.