Rooster or Hen?
When your chicks are young it’s hard to tell their sex. This is an article in progress I will be updating from time to time as my Buff Orpington chicks grow.
I want you to know I don’t claim to be an expert on thee anatomy of chickens, this is what I am noticing about my new Buff Orpington breed. We’ve had many breeds but Buff Orpington’s are one of the less aggressive breeds.
It’s difficult to tell if you have a rooster (cockerel) in a new flock when chicks are one and two weeks old, also, each breed grows differently in my experience. My husband and I thought we bought eight hens, Surprise!!! But it’s okay. I love him. So, examine your chicks bodies each week for changes.
Differences
*Hens might have a longer oblong body.
*Hens tails grow more downward.
*Roosters tails grow more upwards with fancy placed feathers and flare when older.
*Roosters have a rounder/wider body, more noticeable after six weeks of age.
*Roosters legs appear taller/longer, feathers may vary.
*Roosters combs and waddles become red, usually the first thing you will notice different from your other chicks and grow faster than hens do. Each breed is a little different.
*Roosters in general are not as friendly as hens, they are stand offish, but if you keep picking him up, showing him you are the
boss, not him, he will scream but don't worry about it, he will become friendlier, a little bit, some are very friendly I have heard.
Below photo is Rodger and Honey, all my chicks are just barely three months old. Notice the difference in their comb and waddles, Honey doesn't have any yet.
When your chicks are young it’s hard to tell their sex. This is an article in progress I will be updating from time to time as my Buff Orpington chicks grow.
I want you to know I don’t claim to be an expert on thee anatomy of chickens, this is what I am noticing about my new Buff Orpington breed. We’ve had many breeds but Buff Orpington’s are one of the less aggressive breeds.
It’s difficult to tell if you have a rooster (cockerel) in a new flock when chicks are one and two weeks old, also, each breed grows differently in my experience. My husband and I thought we bought eight hens, Surprise!!! But it’s okay. I love him. So, examine your chicks bodies each week for changes.
Differences
*Hens might have a longer oblong body.
*Hens tails grow more downward.
*Roosters tails grow more upwards with fancy placed feathers and flare when older.
*Roosters have a rounder/wider body, more noticeable after six weeks of age.
*Roosters legs appear taller/longer, feathers may vary.
*Roosters combs and waddles become red, usually the first thing you will notice different from your other chicks and grow faster than hens do. Each breed is a little different.
*Roosters in general are not as friendly as hens, they are stand offish, but if you keep picking him up, showing him you are the
boss, not him, he will scream but don't worry about it, he will become friendlier, a little bit, some are very friendly I have heard.
Below photo is Rodger and Honey, all my chicks are just barely three months old. Notice the difference in their comb and waddles, Honey doesn't have any yet.
