The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: wannabesmallholder on June 10, 2018, 08:22:39 pm

Title: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: wannabesmallholder on June 10, 2018, 08:22:39 pm
Anyone care to take a guess at the sex of these 18 week orpingtons? There are 3 in total. None are crowing, but one or two have become a bit more aggressive recently. I know orps are slower to develop so wondered if we have one or more cockerels.

Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: landroverroy on June 10, 2018, 08:30:58 pm
Both hens - small comb and wattle and no sickle feathers round the tail.
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: wannabesmallholder on June 10, 2018, 08:42:49 pm
Ok thank you. It’s 3 separate ones and it was one of the gold laced ones that’s become particularly aggressive (and problematic with the other breeds in the flock).
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: Perris on June 11, 2018, 06:44:20 am
I'd guess that's a hen too, but certainty will come only when they either lay or crow!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: chrismahon on June 11, 2018, 07:11:30 am
Our Orpingtons began to sex at 18 weeks but two were as late as 26 weeks. She went to bed as a hen and the next morning…..!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: wannabesmallholder on June 11, 2018, 09:19:01 am
Thanks [member=23925]chrismahon[/member] I want to sell 2 of them, so I guess will have to wait a bit longer before I can sell them as hens!!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: in the hills on June 11, 2018, 09:49:27 am
I would have suspicions that the second one could be a cockerel.
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: landroverroy on June 11, 2018, 11:25:55 am
I would have suspicions that the second one could be a cockerel.


I agree the second one is less clear than the first, but I would still say it's definitely a hen. On first sight it's a nice compact dumpy shape, whereas cockerels at that age are a lot more leggy.


But even more defining (as stated) is the absence of sickle feathers round the tail. They would certainly be visible now if this was a male bird.
 
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: wannabesmallholder on June 11, 2018, 11:31:43 am
I would have suspicions that the second one could be a cockerel.

It’s the second one that i am suspicious of behaviour-wise too!

[member=6533]landroverroy[/member] would the cockerel features still be obvious at these age even in orps, as I know they are slower to show?
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: in the hills on June 11, 2018, 04:00:26 pm
My daughter thought three hens. She thinks the overall shape is more hen like.


A neighbour found this breed difficult to sex.


Only sure way is to wait and see!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: landroverroy on June 11, 2018, 04:10:50 pm
My daughter thought three hens. She thinks the overall shape is more hen like.


A neighbour found this breed difficult to sex.


Only sure way is to wait and see!


 Hmm . . . first impression - definitely 3 hens. But then the more I look closely, the more a slight element of doubt creeps in for the second 2. :thinking: 
I have had Buff Orpingtons that I had my doubts with at the same age as these; but my birds were much more leggy, not the compact feminine shape of these, and mine did turn out to be male.

[/size][size=78%]  [/size]
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: in the hills on June 11, 2018, 04:25:02 pm
I thought that the third was possibly a cockerel on first sight too!


Mmmmm, you'll have to let us know Wannabesmallholder!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: wannabesmallholder on June 11, 2018, 10:27:12 pm
Err, well one of them laid an egg this morning, so at least I know there's one hen!! Wasn't expecting that so early!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: in the hills on June 11, 2018, 10:59:10 pm
 :thumbsup:


Let's hope there are 3 tomorrow!
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: roddycm on June 12, 2018, 12:51:05 am
I'd say hens! :)
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: Steph Hen on June 13, 2018, 05:43:06 pm
 :fc: looks like three hens to me
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: Koojie on July 05, 2018, 09:22:21 pm
My gold laced was a grumpy mare - but not as grumpy as my buff Sussex!   Some birds just have different temperaments.  On the other hand I had a blue, splash and buff orpies who were great birds, great mum and terrific aunties.  I think yours may be girls as I had mine at 18 weeks and all looked similar to those photos.  Although the one in the middle doesn't have the spider web type of feathers that the males have, or the tail feathers which I think should have appeared by now.  The wattles look rather splendid though!  In our house it was "it's a girl until she crows" rule. 
Title: Re: Can you sex these orpingtons?
Post by: Womble on July 05, 2018, 10:55:13 pm
I'd guess that's a hen too, but certainty will come only when they either lay or crow!
So Mrs Womble is certain that one of our teenage peacocks (pure white, so hard to sex) has stolen a load of eggs from one of the hens, and then sat on them for a month.
I tried to point out that there was a more likely explanation, but she's just not buying it!!