kevinandsara
In the Brooder
- Aug 22, 2015
- 11
- 0
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I have a buff Orpington that is about 6 months. None of my girls are laying yet. "She" is crowing and mounting others. Is this possible or do I have a rooster in disguise?
My hen is crowing??
- Thread starter kevinandsara
- Start date
I had a hen that would mount other hens. I have also heard of hens who will "crow" in the absence of a rooster, so I guess it's possible yours is a pullet trying to assert her dominance. It's very likely you have a cockerel, and buff Orps can be hard to tell if you are new to chickens. Can you post a picture?
To tell a cockerel, look for a larger comb and wattles compared to the pullets. Also, by 6 months, male saddle feathers will be visible hanging down from the back on either side of the tail. Male saddle feathers are long, very narrow, sharply pointed, and have a shiny or glassy sheen. By contrast, pullets' feathers are short and blunt, rounded at the tips. On buffs, it can be harder to tell since they are a solid color.
To tell a cockerel, look for a larger comb and wattles compared to the pullets. Also, by 6 months, male saddle feathers will be visible hanging down from the back on either side of the tail. Male saddle feathers are long, very narrow, sharply pointed, and have a shiny or glassy sheen. By contrast, pullets' feathers are short and blunt, rounded at the tips. On buffs, it can be harder to tell since they are a solid color.
- Thread starter
- #3
kevinandsara
In the Brooder
- Aug 22, 2015
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Oliver Douglas
Songster
- Mar 25, 2015
- 322
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Caitlyn, is that you??? Sorry, I couldn't resist...
Not 100% certain, but I think it's a boy. Looks like thin saddles hanging behind the wing, but it's hard to tell in the picture. Hopefully you will get some other opinions.
That's a cockerel. See the long skinny saddle feathers coming in on his back?
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- #7
kevinandsara
In the Brooder
- Aug 22, 2015
- 11
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really? Ah dang.
junebuggena
Crowing
Long, thin male saddle feathers and a darker shade of buff on the wings; it's a cockerel, nothing 'disguised' about him.
- Thread starter
- #9
kevinandsara
In the Brooder
- Aug 22, 2015
- 11
- 0
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We named her Bobbi cause her tail feathers were stubbed to start and now theyve grown more. I guess it is Bobby with a y or Bob.
My boys name every male critter around here Bob. Or Steve.
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