A crowing pullet? Oh no!

[TJsGoldenGirls]

I think I may have a Rooster, though everyone tells me that she looks like a girl, my Buff Orpington crowed this morning! She is 4 months old with a very red, well grown comb and waddle. I worry she is a he because my BR and RIR barely have a comb and waddle and they are 5 months. Someone also asked today if the BR was a roo because she seemed lighter than a pullet would be. Ahhh, two roos? No!!!! Can anyone help me?

 

[sourland]

One pullet and one cockerel. Ducks 'waddle' - chickens have wattles. BO given the early comb and wattle development + crowing is most likely a cockerel. Pointy hackle and sickle feathers would guarantee that fact.

 

[TJsGoldenGirls]

I was afraid of this. I'll have to send him back However, I've seen a few other pictures of pullets with mature wattles (forgive my misspelling) at this age, and I was told that the tail feathers would be very long and pointed, is this what you are seeing? I'm obviously all too new to this. Such a bummer, it's a very nice chicken.

 

[TJsGoldenGirls]

Here are a couple more photos for anyone that wants to take a guess. These show more tail and hackle feathers.

 

[Suzie]

Looks like a female to me!

 

[TJsGoldenGirls]

Looks like a female to me!

Well there's one for hopeful! Thanks. I'll be sure to let you all know. Anyone else?

 

[TJsGoldenGirls]

PLEASE, can atone else chime in on this? We had no crowing yesterday but a few this morning at 8a.m. I've read some hens wil crow, but I'm very afraid she's a he. It's such a nice chicken, and we can't keep it I'd he's a he. If he is a rooster, does anyone want a beautiful 4 month old Buff Orp roo, in the L.A. area?

 

[realsis]

hackles look male to me plus crowing is a dead give away. I've read only time females will crow is if they are old ? same thing happed to me. I ended up with two crowing roos before I got my four girls.its so sad but I did find them good homes. sometimes 4H kids will take and raise the roos. I can't have roos where I live so as soon as the crowing started I had to give them up. I know how your feeling and what your going through. but if they are crowing then they are a roo. its NOT at all likely you got a crowing pullet. in my opinion and experience if its crowing its a male. mine looked very female too but as soon as it crowed I knew I was wrong. sorry. I would have sworn mine was female until it crowed. none of my pullets Crow. but my males sure did. I wish you the best. I'm sorry I know exactly how you feel. broke my heart when mine crowed. but I knew for sure then it was male. good luck to you!

 

[TJsGoldenGirls]

Thank you, I'm nervous about trying to replace him. If I get another pullet, can I put her in with the others right away?

 

[realsis]

you will want to introduce her slowly. I've heard if you put her in at night it won't be so bad with the pecking. this might help. best of luck!