Yup, they are females.
depends... they are on a biological timer and each seed can be a bit different. Simply keep it healthy and in at least a 3-gallon pot and it will flower on its own. An "XL" auto may need 5-gal for comfort.
~2 weeks you'll see preflowers for sure -- single bracts at nodes with a white hair-like projection (stigma)
then, a week or so later you'll see tufts of white stigma at termina nodes.... slowly goes from there...