Gender for Appenzeller Spitzhauben 6 week old

[fightingbunny]

Is it too early to tell the gender on my Appenzeller Spitzhaubens? I have two chicks that were hatched about 6 weeks ago.

Chick A:


Chick B


Not sure which one this is! They move around and then I can't tell them apart

 

[Alexandra33]

So far, nothing screaming cockerel! Could you possibly update us in another few weeks, just to confirm?

~Alex

 

[fightingbunny]

I will update in a few weeks. Currently I am thinking of keeping both of them even though I only intended to keep one. Even when there were 10 more chicks in with them, these two always formed a little sub-tribe together and I would hate to break them up. The downside is that I am going to have to tell them apart somehow! maybe they need bracelets

 

[Gray Farms]

Spitzhaubens are notoriously hard to sex when young. Mine don't even start growing comb/wattles until 8-9 weeks. And cockerels start to redden up a week or so later.

 

[fightingbunny]

Did you notice any behavior differences before the physical ones?

 

[drumstick diva]

Would you please post new photos around 10-12 weeks of age?

 

[fightingbunny]

I tried to get pictures, but didn't do so good. Here is an update at 9 weeks! I am not sure, but it might be the same bird in the foreground. They look too much alike

 

[Gray Farms]

Look like both pullets to me. No sign of wattles yet.

 

[Criticalicious]

Maybe put bands on their legs until you can tell them apart on sight. TSC sells a brand called Happy Hen, that are fairly easy to put on and take off

 

[fightingbunny]

I am concerned by the pointyness of the neck feathers and the draping of the feathers just in front of the tail feathers (saddle feathers?). Is that normal for a hen? My welsummer hen has pointy neck feathers too, so maybe that is just some breeds?