Dark Brahma genders

I got some Dark Brahma hatching eggs from a local breeder in order to add to my flock. I ended up with mostly cockerels, go figure, but there are 2 that have me confused. They are now 12 weeks old and the boys have got traditional rooster coloring and have started getting the pointed saddle feathers, except these 2 that have what looks like rooster coloring, but round saddle feathers. My definite girls already have their pencilling and traditional colors. This is the first chick in question.
This is chick in question #2.


Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Definitely males, just slower to mature.

MysteryChicken said:

Definitely males, just slower to mature.

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Thank you, that's what I was thinking but wanted to make sure before I decided what to do with them.

MysteryChicken said:

Definitely males, just slower to mature.

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He's (or they are) really pretty, we only have light and buff. The one where the chicken is looking at the camera is that the same chicken as the bottom picture?? Or did it accidentally duplicate. I would almost think female on the one looking at the camera (with the pool in the background)

heavenjumper said:

Thank you, that's what I was thinking but wanted to make sure before I decided what to do with them.

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You're welcome.

It's always good to double check.

CFLRanching said:

He's (or they are) really pretty, we only have light and buff. The one where the chicken is looking at the camera is that the same chicken as the bottom picture?? Or did it accidentally duplicate. I would almost think female on the one looking at the camera (with the pool in the background)

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Nope, not female. Dark Brahma coloration is sexually dimorphic, with males being Black, & Females Pencilled.

CFLRanching said:

He's (or they are) really pretty, we only have light and buff. The one where the chicken is looking at the camera is that the same chicken as the bottom picture?? Or did it accidentally duplicate. I would almost think female on the one looking at the camera (with the pool in the background)

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Nope, it duplicated. The one facing the camera is #2 and the last picture is #1. Thank you for noticing, I'll see if I can fix that to eliminate confusion.

MysteryChicken said:

Nope, not female. Dark Brahma coloration is sexually dimorphic, with males being Black, & Females Pencilled.

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I did pick up 1 last year that had rooster coloring but was definitely a hen, but I've figured out this year that the rooster I picked up from the same place has some Light Brahma mixed in with the dark, so she may have been the same. Unfortunately, I lost her to shock after a run in with a dog last fall. This is what she looked like(in front of the kennel, rooster was in the kennel).

heavenjumper said:

I did pick up 1 last year that had rooster coloring but was definitely a hen, but I've figured out this year that the rooster I picked up from the same place has some Light Brahma mixed in with the dark, so she may have been the same. Unfortunately, I lost her to shock after a run in with a dog last fall. This is what she looked like(in front of the kennel, rooster was in the kennel).
View attachment 3187677

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Looks like Light Brahma X Dark Brahma. One of mixed color. So, the mixing theory is correct, but doesn't correlate to the pure Dark/Silver Penciled coloration.

MysteryChicken said:

Nope, not female. Dark Brahma coloration is sexually dimorphic, with males being Black, & Females Pencilled.

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Gotcha. Good to know if we ever get any of them. I like the breeds that have that easily distinguished color difference between the sexes. Makes it so much easier (instead of playing the waiting game).