So my Serama Can't Decide if it is a Pullet or a Cockerel

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SJchickens

SJchickens

Songster
Mar 13, 2015
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Long Island, NY
Ok, so I have a Serama. It's about 21 weeks old and until now I was confident it was a cockerel. Why? Because it was crowing and it's comb and waddles are quite large.

Here's the odd part. He lives in a flock that consists of 3 other birds. As I mentioned before, he was crowing like crazy for about a week, and then he just stopped. Not a peep out of him since. Just last night, I found a small, white egg in the nesting box. I assumed it was my oldest silkie (who is also 21 weeks old) just laying extremely early (which is odd because they aren't on layer feed so I don't know why she would be prematurely laying). So I gave her a thumbs up and brought the tiny egg inside. The two others aren't old enough to lay.

Today, my cockerel won't leave the coop. He's settled in the nesting box making noise and fussing around like a pullet that is about to lay her first egg. What's going on? Was that egg actually his?

Thanks!
 
Layer feed doesn't actually make them lay. It's just got a lower protein content and extra calcium added for eggshell production. It's entirely possible for your 21 week old pullets to be laying.
If you post a picture of the bird in question, you'll get your answer of pullet or cockerel. By 21 weeks, males should have very obvious male specific feathering.
 
junebuggena said:
Layer feed doesn't actually make them lay. It's just got a lower protein content and extra calcium added for eggshell production. It's entirely possible for your 21 week old pullets to be laying.
If you post a picture of the bird in question, you'll get your answer of pullet or cockerel. By 21 weeks, males should have very obvious male specific feathering.
Click to expand...

I'll get a picture of him once he's out of the nesting box, but I'm pretty sure your answer will be cockerel. Even so, if it was my silkie pullet that laid that egg, then what is my cockerel doing in the nesting box?
 
Cockerels and roosters will sometimes hangout in a nesting box and coo and cluck at the hens. Basically, he's telling them that he thinks it's a great spot for them to raise his babies.
My boy does it in the middle of the yard. He is clueless. The girls just look at him like he's crazy.
 
Definitely post a picture, I'm curious! We also have a "cockerel" that crows and has developed male features, but acts just like a hen. Very strange.
 
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1000



Here "he" is.


Also a pic of him I took about a week ago:


1000



Ok update, he just laid a tiny egg.
 
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I don't know anything about Seramas, but "he" looks pretty feminine to me. I think gender in chickens is more confusing that you would think!
 
Maddly said:
I don't know anything about Seramas, but "he" looks pretty feminine to me. I think gender in chickens is more confusing that you would think!
Click to expand...
I never would've assumed he was a cockerel in the first place if it wasn't for the crowing. It's so odd!
 
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You have a pullet.
Here is my rooster. Notice how his hackle feathers are long and flowing, kind of like a "Fabio" hair style. And see how thin the saddle feathers are. Now, compare his feathering to the barred hens next to him.
 

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