A late blooming rooster?

[GallusSapiens]

In our flock of 23-week-olds (all of whom were supposed to be pullets), we have two Barred Rocks. One of them we have known for quite some time is a rooster. He differentiated quite clearly from the other BR just a couple weeks after we got them as 14-week olds. He is now significantly larger, with much larger and much redder comb and wattles, and big droopy ear lobes, long curled tail feathers, and long saddle feathers. He also crows. A lot. Here is a picture of him:




The other we have been quite confident is a pullet, up until this week. Her comb and wattles are half the size, less red, and she is not nearly as big. She also has not had as big of a tail, nor any spur development. However, this week, "she" has started to crow. Here is a picture of "her":


I certainly have read a lot about instances of crowing hens. However, there are some other behaviors that lead me to question the gender. The two BRs have always been close, practically inseparable. Now that the rooster is older, he mounts the other pullets quite regularly. Eggberta (the BR in question) will have none of it. I've seen him try a couple of times, only to be quite firmly put in his place. He hasn't tried since. For as long as we've had them, she also "faces off" with him whenever they get out of the run, running up to him and fluffing her hackle feathers. They even "chest bump" from time to time. Now I have also noticed that she watches intently whenever he mounts one of the pullets. Finally, this week, she has crowed several times. In every case, she has crowed only when she has been separated from Rocky (either we remove him from the run, or while free ranging, he's no longer in her line of sight). I've also noticed that she is getting a new set of tail feathers (both BRs are renewing their tail feathers this week), and they look a little longer (though not nearly as erect as Rocky's).

Is it possible that a rooster could come into his own at such a late age? Or are we just "lucky" enough to have a crowing hen? We'd hoped we'd be able to keep Rocky, but he is getting noisier and noisier, and I am afraid he will have to be re-homed. But if Eggberta takes over for the crowing when he is gone, then she may have to go, too.

By the way, no eggs yet (obviously). Any thoughts as to the possibility that Eggberta is a late-blooming roo? Or shall we wait a few weeks to see if any eggs come out?

Thanks!

 

[ramirezframing]

roo

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

In our flock of 23-week-olds (all of whom were supposed to be pullets), we have two Barred Rocks. One of them we have known for quite some time is a rooster. He differentiated quite clearly from the other BR just a couple weeks after we got them as 14-week olds. He is now significantly larger, with much larger and much redder comb and wattles, and big droopy ear lobes, long curled tail feathers, and long saddle feathers. He also crows. A lot. Here is a picture of him:




The other we have been quite confident is a pullet, up until this week. Her comb and wattles are half the size, less red, and she is not nearly as big. She also has not had as big of a tail, nor any spur development. However, this week, "she" has started to crow. Here is a picture of "her":


I certainly have read a lot about instances of crowing hens. However, there are some other behaviors that lead me to question the gender. The two BRs have always been close, practically inseparable. Now that the rooster is older, he mounts the other pullets quite regularly. Eggberta (the BR in question) will have none of it. I've seen him try a couple of times, only to be quite firmly put in his place. He hasn't tried since. For as long as we've had them, she also "faces off" with him whenever they get out of the run, running up to him and fluffing her hackle feathers. They even "chest bump" from time to time. Now I have also noticed that she watches intently whenever he mounts one of the pullets. Finally, this week, she has crowed several times. In every case, she has crowed only when she has been separated from Rocky (either we remove him from the run, or while free ranging, he's no longer in her line of sight). I've also noticed that she is getting a new set of tail feathers (both BRs are renewing their tail feathers this week), and they look a little longer (though not nearly as erect as Rocky's).

Is it possible that a rooster could come into his own at such a late age? Or are we just "lucky" enough to have a crowing hen? We'd hoped we'd be able to keep Rocky, but he is getting noisier and noisier, and I am afraid he will have to be re-homed. But if Eggberta takes over for the crowing when he is gone, then she may have to go, too.

By the way, no eggs yet (obviously). Any thoughts as to the possibility that Eggberta is a late-blooming roo? Or shall we wait a few weeks to see if any eggs come out?

Thanks!

I have read that more white than black bars and lack of black coloring on front of legs are a "wives tale" way of determining a roo for barred rocks. I have 2 pullets and are way more black and have the black coloring on legs. Hope this helps.

 

[goldfinches]

I think you have 2 roos.

 

[donrae]

Roo.

The overall lighter coloring is an indicator of a roo with barred breeds. You can also see the hackle and saddle feathers.
Lots of roos don't have much for spurs at this age, so that's not an indicator of gender.

Your first roo being strongly dominant may have inhibited the second roo from developing as quickly, and can also inhibit crowing and mating.

 

[GallusSapiens]

Roo.

The overall lighter coloring is an indicator of a roo with barred breeds. You can also see the hackle and saddle feathers.
Lots of roos don't have much for spurs at this age, so that's not an indicator of gender.

Your first roo being strongly dominant may have inhibited the second roo from developing as quickly, and can also inhibit crowing and mating.

Why are the comb and wattles (not to mention the overall size) so much smaller? The comb of the smaller one is identical to combs of BR hens I've seen in photos here and elsewhere. I'll post a picture of the two of them together. The size is difference is remarkable. Is such "underdevelopment" normal for a 6-month-old rooster?

 

[wordgirl]

I know what you mean about the comb - it looks very henlike. Unfortunately, I think it's too light to be a hen, and I think I can see saddle feathers near its tail. Sorry, I think it's a too!

They're both very pretty!

 

[ChickenPeep]

Roo. I had a late blooming roo, too.

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

The dominant rooster will develope much faster, while the submissive one will stay hen like(smaller, less flashy facial features etc) for longer due the presents of a dominant male(more of a mechanism to keep fighting to a minimum until fully mature). You can also notice that with a flock with adult roosters, the dominant one will almost always have a larger comb, wattles and feathers then the others(with my leghorns for example, my brown roo is the most dominant, when he is put in with the silver, buff and black roosters their combs and wattles shrink and their posture becomes more submissive).

 

[TamaNicole]

The dominant rooster will develope much faster, while the submissive one will stay hen like(smaller, less flashy facial features etc) for longer due the presents of a dominant male(more of a mechanism to keep fighting to a minimum until fully mature). You can also notice that with a flock with adult roosters, the dominant one will almost always have a larger comb, wattles and feathers then the others(with my leghorns for example, my brown roo is Since he will be the roo for them. the most dominant, when he is put in with the silver, buff and black roosters their combs and wattles shrink and their posture becomes more submissive).

So if we removed all the dominate roosters from the pen and just left him. Will he take over the girls in the flock? Since he will be the onloy roo for them now.