Sexing Polish Frizzle

No no no!!!!! My Ms Frizz the polish frizzle is crowing (possible polish cochin mix). I am broken hearted. She is somewhere around 12 - 14 weeks. Recently a friend (who has had chickens since she was a child) assured me she was definitely a hen from her small pale comb and no sign of wattle. Since that visit 2 1/2 weeks ago Frizzy's comb suddenly took on a life of it's own. It has gotten bigger and wavy and redder. and 5 days ago she began crowing. But, there is still no sign of wattle. No sign of wattle at all. Is this normal? I have read here that some hen's will crow if there is no rooster in the flock. She is twice the age of the rest of the flock (8 in all). The layers (Faverolle. Wyandotte, and Dominique) have almost caught up in size although they are half Frizzy's age. She doesn't have the very bushy topper of a full polish hen but she came from a bantam farm that has silkie, cochins, and polish penned together. Frizzle's and sizzles and naked necks. So she could be part cochin. Her topper furls forward instead of back like all the other Polish roo's I have seen. Any thoughts? Male or female? Will a wattle suddenly start growing as the comb did?

The first picture is when I brought her home almost 7 weeks ago.


about 12 days ago


6 days ago







and it has continued to grow. Will try to get a clearer photo later when husband is home. So hard with her feather topper hiding it.
My township says no roosters. It does not say no crowing hens, LOL.

I have never had a hen crow, so I have always said it was a bogus myth, and I am kinda on the fence leaning towards Rooster though.

"She" actually cooperated for a picture of the comb that has suddenly sprung up. No inkling of a wattle yet. No sign of spurs. The only time "she" crows is when she is unhappy and is calling for me. Quiet in the morning until "she" hears me bumping around in the house. I bring out some morning mash or a plate of greens and fruit and I don't hear another peep until I come out in the afternoon to take them out of the brooder to free range for a couple hours. I load all the other 7 1/2 week old chicks into 2 small crates and carry them out first. That's when she does "her" best crowing is when she gets left behind all by herself briefly and is lonely. Tonight is their first night moved out from the brooder and into the new coop. They have spent several afternoons exploring the area, including the pen and the coop. I was hoping the move would be less stressful for them after spending some daylight hours out there. Sure not. First Frizzy started crowing in the pen as it began to get dark. I went out and moved them all from the pen to the coop (was hoping they would go in on their own). They all huddled into a heap in the corner. Even with a big window and a nightlight they are terrified. I am having empty nest syndrome without them in the brooder in the garage (as I usually go out and sit and visit and sing to them) and guilty mother complex all rolled into one.

I'm afraid I have to say I believe Ms Frizz is a boy. I have mainly polish and have crossed polish too which can make things a little more difficult, pure polish are bad enough to sex and adding a mix into that makes it even more difficult I have found. Wattles may develop at a later stage as Ms Frizz develops, each bird is different and individual.

Empty nest is hard I know. I feel just the same when I move chicks outside. The house is just too quiet then. I'm sure they will all settle when they get used to their surroundings.

Thank you. Saddens me to say I am posting my Frizzy on Craigs List this weekend.

A little less sad tonight. Dizzy Frizzy is definitely ALL male and has cast all his amour and attention on to an approx. 9 - 10 week old smooth polish named Polly Peepers. She never stops talking. And now she is screaming when Frizz cast his attentions upon her. I hope someone calls soon to re-home my Frizz. I will miss my Ms Frizz but I won't miss the newly hormonal Dizzy Frizzy I met tonight. Men!!!!!

Poor Polly Peepers!

I already know the response I am going to get "too early" at two weeks old. However, I can't resist posting this cutie. Anyone have any tips for sexing a polish frizzle? (The other chick in the photo is an Easter Egger) Enjoy!

CascadiaRiver said:

I have never had a hen crow, so I have always said it was a bogus myth, and I am kinda on the fence leaning towards Rooster though.

Click to expand...

I had a silkie/frizzle that turned out to be a hen, but she when she did this I thought she was going to be a little rooster