Australorp pullet or roo?

[oldhenlikesdogs]

<--- How I'm feeling right now!
He came from the Pullet bin from TSC! And was holding out hope. But thank you!

One of the many reasons I don't buy chicks from the TS.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

<--- How I'm feeling right now!
He came from the Pullet bin from TSC! And was holding out hope. But thank you!

A: Pullet bin is not 100% guaranteed to be female. It is in the 90ish% range.
B: Having a Cockerel is not a bad thing at all. Unless your geographical local prohibits you. If that is the case, he could be raised until he matures and can be sold for the handsome price of chicken feed for the rest of your stock.
We breed a lot. We hatch many males. We have zero problems turning them into some sort of profit.

Just interact with it a bunch if you plan to keep it. The more you visit him and interact, the more human friendly he will become. Most people with problem Roo's just chuck them feed and go back in the house. If he is use to your presence, he won't feel you are a threat or invading his territory. The territory belongs to the both of you, once he matures at the ripe age of 6ish months or more. That's when the crowing starts and the hormonal changes begin.
Good luck on what ever you decide to do.

 

[kinkachy000]

One of the many reasons I don't buy chicks from the TS.

Yes, I have learned my lesson. Not only was it supposed to be a female, but it was also supposed to be a bantam! In fact, I actually bought 5 bantams, that were supposedly all sexed and pullets. Those 5 "bantams"? Not a single one! I ended up actually getting the australorp, two red New Hampshires, a white laced red cornish, and then (the worst of all) a giant white broiler chicken! Not at all bantams! Oh well, you live and you learn! I love them all the same, the broiler chicken is actually my favorite because she is so sweet. I'm devastated that she won't live very long.

 

[kinkachy000]

A: Pullet bin is not 100% guaranteed to be female. It is in the 90ish% range.
B: Having a Cockerel is not a bad thing at all. Unless your geographical local prohibits you. If that is the case, he could be raised until he matures and can be sold for the handsome price of chicken feed for the rest of your stock.
We breed a lot. We hatch many males. We have zero problems turning them into some sort of profit.

Just interact with it a bunch if you plan to keep it. The more you visit him and interact, the more human friendly he will become. Most people with problem Roo's just chuck them feed and go back in the house. If he is use to your presence, he won't feel you are a threat or invading his territory. The territory belongs to the both of you, once he matures at the ripe age of 6ish months or more. That's when the crowing starts and the hormonal changes begin.
Good luck on what ever you decide to do.

I understand that sexing is 100%, but I was hoping! I honestly think that it was TSC's fault and had simply mislabeled them. Because this australorp was in the bantam bucket, along with four other not-bantams that I ended up getting. It's alright though, love them all the same, big or small.

Sadly, where I live only allows one rooster and I have my heart smitten on my tiny, Japanese bantam cockerel. This guy is sweet and I plan on keeping him that way; he runs to you when you go out in the yard, eats from your hand, and seems pretty laid back. Plus, I already have a backup plan for all the surprise roosters - I have a friend who has a large acreage of farm and she has agreed to take in any roosters I may have gotten. So he will be living the good life, free-ranging and having his choice with tons of other ladies.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I understand that sexing is 100%,

 

[ronott1]

I do not see saddle feathers yet and the comb looks like a pullet comb. The wattles are pullet wattles too:

How to Determine Which Is a Black Australorp Rooster and Which Is a Black Australorp Hen?

1. Examine the blade of the comb which is the lobe-like area at the rear of the comb. Roosters have rounded blades nearly half the length of the comb. Female Australorp chickens have combs that only cover two-thirds of the head and end in a sharp point.

1. Check the red waddle of the bird. The Australorp rooster has a waddle that is longer than it is wide. The Australorp hen has a waddle that is wider, or as wide as, it is long.

1. Exaxine the neck plumage of the chicken. Males Australorps have pointy neck plumage that cascades over the shoulder and down to the beginning of the wing. Female neck plumage reaches the shoulder and is rounded.

1. Observe the tail of the chicken. The tail feathers of male Australorp chickens cascade in a soft rounded waterfall effect. Australorp hens have blunt, short tail feathers.

1. Listen to the birds. The roosters will crow while the hens do not.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Don't worry, you are not eh only one that has this problem. It's a good idea to try and educate yourself a lot before buying from a feed store. Then you can tell if you are getting a bantam or not, if that's the correct breed as listed, etc. of course, you can't tell the sex at that age. Last year, I bought 2 BR 'pullets' at a feed store. One was a boy. A month so, I just bought 2 Easter Egger 'pullets'. 1 is looking quite cockerelish....

 

[kinkachy000]

View attachment 1379383View attachment 1379384

Ahh! Oh my gosh! I totally did not mean that! * facepalm * What I meant to say is, "I understand sexing ISN'T 100%" Wow, what a mistake! I do honestly know that it is NOT 100% - I swear! Haha!

 

[kinkachy000]

I do not see saddle feathers yet and the comb looks like a pullet comb. The wattles are pullet wattles too:

How to Determine Which Is a Black Australorp Rooster and Which Is a Black Australorp Hen?

1. Examine the blade of the comb which is the lobe-like area at the rear of the comb. Roosters have rounded blades nearly half the length of the comb. Female Australorp chickens have combs that only cover two-thirds of the head and end in a sharp point.

1. Check the red waddle of the bird. The Australorp rooster has a waddle that is longer than it is wide. The Australorp hen has a waddle that is wider, or as wide as, it is long.

1. Exaxine the neck plumage of the chicken. Males Australorps have pointy neck plumage that cascades over the shoulder and down to the beginning of the wing. Female neck plumage reaches the shoulder and is rounded.

1. Observe the tail of the chicken. The tail feathers of male Australorp chickens cascade in a soft rounded waterfall effect. Australorp hens have blunt, short tail feathers.

1. Listen to the birds. The roosters will crow while the hens do not.

Oooh! This gives me hope! Thank you for this information, it is very helpful. I haven't heard anyone start to crow yet, but I have been keeping my ear open. I've been saying to myself, I won't believe they're a rooster until I hear them crow! When I get home, I will examine her neck and tail plumage and base it off of what you stated. If I am lucky, I will try to get a good picture of them both. Thank you again, I will give an update when I get the further information.

 

[kinkachy000]

@ronott1

Okay, so I got some neck and tail feather pictures. I tried to get some good ones, but I can get different pictures/angles if you need. These should help identifying her/him.

So what are your thoughts now? Thank you so much!