We have two barred rocks (supposed to both be hens), but one has developed a large comb and wattle. The other's is small and lighter in color, yet they're the same age - 4+ mo. The chicken in question has no sign of spurs, but has the typical outgoing rooster personality I keep reading about.... and its comb is really BIG! No crowing yet, but I'm getting worried. Is it possible I still may have a rooster, or can lack of any spurs what-so-ever put my worries to rest?
Can my hen be a rooster if she/he doesn't have spurs?
It can take quite a while for the spurs to develop--I never notice them on younger roosters--It does sound like you have a roo....hen's sometimes have large combs, it can be breed and strain dependent--but a hen's comb tends to fall over while the rooster's stays up.
I feel your pain--I have had far too many pullets turn into roosters. They are almost always my favourites--and then I have to get rid of them because I'm not allowed roosters here.....
Yup.. sounds like roo... the difference in color... too bad. Oh well, maby you can hatch the eggs!
One of my "girls" has a definite rooster attitude. I was assured that they were pullets, but she has a much bigger comb, and wattles, and stared down the cat at 3 weeks, and chased the squirrel out of our yard, which our dog or cat wouldn't do, lol. They're 3/12 months old. Good luck with yours, wish me luck with mine.
most of my favorites turned in to roo's too. I can keep them.. i just don't want a chorus line of roos singing to me every morning so i think i may get rid of a few. Btwn mine & the neighbors 12 roos.. it gets a bit noisy at daylight.
Oh I grew up with chickens, and absolutely love the sound of roosters in the morning. My neighbor would come over every morning and throw her shoes at my rooster. Not having an unlimited supply of shoes, she would come back every afternoon, swear at my Dad, and he would swear back at her, just to collect her shoes. That happened everyday, lol. That was my childhood, and I loved it.
My only problem is that roosters are illegal here. And they do tend to advertise themselves.
o i love my roos.. but at 5 am in a line up.. 20 roos btwn the two yards... its LOUD.
Lol, yes it is loud, but it lets you know you're alive.
I got several Barred Rock pullets one of which grew a much bigger, redder comb and waddles than the others. She was also aggressive with the others. I carried her around under my arm daily to gentle her thinking she was a rooster, BUT she is a hen and a very friendly one too. (Her comb did eventually fall over.) Keep your hopes up!
My granddaughters school incubated six eggs and out of that was four roosters,they are three months old now and just started terrorizing the pulltes,pulling there neck fethers out and trying to jump on them,I`m trying very hard to find homes for two of them.That will leave two for thirty five girls.There must be nice roosters out there that are nice to there girls.
Ok, I have four chickens. Two delightful Bramhas, one Brown Danish Leghorn, and a Americauna. They are 5 months and one week old. One of the Bramhas has started laying her brown eggs! Ever since they have been little the Americauna has been the dominate chicken in the coop. She is nice, just more aggressive. The Leghorn is standoffish, but cute as ever!
I have often wondered if she is a he. She has the pea comb, and I can't tell if it has three rows, but it is wide. Then just yesterday, I noticed that my Brahmas have some of their neck feathers missing. I have watched them and it is my Americauna, (In fact, her name is Choo-bacca, from star wars! ) doing the pecking. No Crowing.
This morning, I was down at the coop, feeding them and spending time with them, and when I gave one of the Bramhas some attention, Choobacca, came at her and pecked her. THEN.... She came after her again, almost attacking her. Almost on top of her. So, is this usual for a dominate her? Or could I have a roo, and not know it yet?
I will try to sand a picture. Please Advise!
It is really hard to tell with Americaunas---you do have to look very closely at the comb to see the three rows and by the time I could tell by the comb, they were already crowing and sprouting sickle feathers--but ZZ can tell by the comb much earlier. So take a real good look. All my Americaunas turned out to be roos--and some I was sure for the longest time were pullets.
So, in short, yes, Choobacca could certainly be, and probably is, a roo--but there are extremely dominant hens that will bully the others hens. The neck grabbing though--sounds rooish to me.....
Thanks for all the responses. It sounds like I probably have a rooster, but that all hope is not lost yet...
Too bad though, I paid extra for sexed chicks so I'd only have hens... I know there's always some error in sorting them, but since I only got two (all we're allowed within city limits) for me its a 50% error rate! :)
Not sure if I can keep the rooster, but it seems mean to take him away and keep a single hen all by her lonesome.... I guess for now I'll just keep my fingers crossed that "he" starts laying eggs!
Hang in there Sarah: Can it be a roo without spurs? Why not? I know some cowboys who don't have any spurs either. LOL Haystack Good luck darling. 50 % ouch!
Here is a picture of my chicken. The comb is kind of wide. Can you tell if she is a he? Oh, those are my nosey poodles in the background!
ooo that beautiful guy's comb looks just like my roos.. but i can never tell them apart.. so i may very well be wrong.
Oh dear...looks like three rows to me. I think rooster.
Uh oh Looks roo to me..
Yahoo! I got the most beautiful teal / blue egg! So the debate is over! She is a hen!
She is still pecking the other one's necks. Any suggestions on how to stop the neck feather pecking?
yippie! There is hope for my "roo's" that haven't started crowing yet! Maybe I'll get lucky & get pretty eggs. Did you happen to take a picture of the pretty egg?
So it's officially a rooster. We've had a crowing alarm clock all week! :) Will have to find a new home for the rooster and new "friends" for my hen. Boyfriend thinks our belly's is the best "home" for him, but I'm still not so sure.
At least it will be fun to raise some new babies to add to the flock.