Pics that show the diff between rooster & hen saddle feathers?

Woofless

Songster
11 Years
Apr 7, 2010
101
12
179
SD
Hi all, I was sitting out in the chicken house today studying my growing birds....they're all between 7-10 weeks old now.

Like a lot of you I am having fun trying to see if I can pick out which ones are roosters. I've got two pegged due to their early comb/wattle development- my Japanese Bantam (I think that's what he is) rooster who is now 7 weeks old had a big red comb at 4 weeks!!

Anyway, I keep reading that one of the characteristics of roosters is that they have "pointed saddle feathers" whereas hens will have rounded ones.

I am wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction to see a couple of good pics that highlight the difference between a rooster's "pointed" feathers and a hen's rounded ones? Either a website, a post on this forum, or your own photos of your own birds?? It seems to me a lot of my birds have "tapered" feathers on their backs, even the ones I'm virtually certain are hens. This is my first time raising chickens so I'd like to get a clear visual as to what the difference in feathers really is?

Thanks in advance!!
smile.png
 
The long feathers hanging down on their sides between his tail and wings are their saddle feathers.....a pullet really doesn't have long saddle feathers.

Roo
SLW10-11-094_final.jpg


pullet
SLW8-28-0912.jpg
 
Here's my rooster. His saddle feathers are the copper colored feathers hanging down on each side of his tail. Although yours are too young to have saddle feathers. You won't start seeing them until 14 weeks or so.

10225.jpg


Wrong photo posted.

Edited again to add a pullet photo, same breed:
IMG_2419.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi,
I rehomed some chickens and was told that they were all hens but now I am unsure about 2 of them as their tail feathers look a bit what cockerels look like.

Also if anyone knows what breed they could be to would be very helpful as the person I rehomed them for couldn't remember. He chickens I need help with are the big brown ones.

Many thanks

700
700
 
Hi,
I rehomed some chickens and was told that they were all hens but now I am unsure about 2 of them as their tail feathers look a bit what cockerels look like.

Also if anyone knows what breed they could be to would be very helpful as the person I rehomed them for couldn't remember. He chickens I need help with are the big brown ones.

Many thanks




mmm they look like a combination of Goldline (battery breed) Light Sussex and Welsummer to me, but I can't be sure x
 
Hi,
I rehomed some chickens and was told that they were all hens but now I am unsure about 2 of them as their tail feathers look a bit what cockerels look like.

Also if anyone knows what breed they could be to would be very helpful as the person I rehomed them for couldn't remember. He chickens I need help with are the big brown ones.

Many thanks

buff Sussex cockerels, you can see the darker wings coming in, along with the pointed neck and saddle feathers coming in.
 
Here's my rooster.  His saddle feathers are the copper colored feathers hanging down on each side of his tail.  Although yours are too young to have saddle feathers.  You won't start seeing them until 14 weeks or so.

10225.jpg



Wrong photo posted.


Edited again to add a pullet photo, same breed:
IMG_2419.jpg


What breed is the brown hen? I have one that looks like this and she is my best broody mom
 

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