New to chickens and already in trouble!

The 'wife' does look like an immature male. The curled tail feathers and pointed neck hackle feathers look suspiciously male to me.
 
Hi Worthysmum. When Bottom arrived he had a bald bottom where the other chicks had pecked the feathers out. He was one of three chicks named after the breed first letter, so Lucy and Lottie Legbar and BOttom Buff Orpington seemed appropriate temporarily. But we never actually got round to giving him another name -of course until he was 26 weeks and one day old we hoped we had a hen to run with the black, blue and jubilee hens we already had.

His son Basil was the same. We had two Buff orpington chicks, one was obviously a cockerel at 15 weeks but we kept him with his apparent sister. Bit of a shock one morning when at 26 weeks and 2 days his sister came out into the run, stood bolt upright and crowed. Basil is now 4 years old and 7 Kg. Very placid Basil is so laid back and likes a cuddle like his dad does, but he lives like a proper chicken, outside with his hens. However he hates Claude the TNN and when we accidentally left the TNN enclosure Omlet net (to keep them at least a metre apart) open he hopped through the gate and hurled himself at Claude's run. Claude was absolutely terrified. The welded meshing of the door is now permanently bent and Claude has stopped taunting Basil.
 
Well she does have a rather "male" look about her, I guess she will either crow soon or develop more male tendencies, often though male development is inhibited when they are amongst other cockerels or an alpha cock in a flock. Does she have any spurs developing?
 
No there is no spur development, nor has she any comb/wattle growth as my cockerel. What age would her comb grow if she is a cockerel. Her face and comb were very pale pink and are now turning redder, I assumed this is because she was coming in to lay ? My dilemna as most peoples probably, is I'm not sure what to do if she is a he. I dont think my run and coop would be big enough for two males, plus that would mean I only have three hens ( the brahma girls ) so not enough for two males :-)07 oh blimey my chickens are sure causing me a headache :roll:
 
Wait and see. Once s/he either starts to crow, or lays an egg, you will know what you are dealing with. No point worrying until you are sure, and it may turn out to be a girl anyway.
 
Don't worry, I had "Jenny" a beautiful cochin pullet for 8 months before some kind person informed me that err...Jenny was a boy. He has never really crowed, has lived in harmony with the other boys. He is now 7 and called Biggins :D
 
Ah bless, love his name. Yeah I'm so fond of her that if I possibly can I will keep him/her. I'm hoping to collect two black orpington hens from a lady near Diss over the weekend, they are a year old, so better luck this time I hope. Staying away from the auctions from now on :D
 
Hope it all works out Worthysmum. Botty is asleep in his bed under this Mac at the moment -hasn't asked for a cuddle yet. But he's had a few already.
 
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