black australorp hen or rooster? PICS

[yardchicken4243]

Please help. We have a very manly looking bird that we were told was a girl. In the bottom picture it is on the left with the other we purchased at the same time on the right. It does not crow, but is much larger than all the other birds we have (total of 6, Rhode Island Reds, Comets and these). The comb and such is also the most pronounced. We purchased the birds in September so they are going on 10-12 weeks and we've had 3 eggs but never caught the layer in action to know who it was. We just want to know if we need to separate this one so we have edible eggs, we're not interested in breeding. Thank you!

 

[donrae]

Please help. We have a very manly looking bird that we were told was a girl. In the bottom picture it is on the left with the other we purchased at the same time on the right. It does not crow, but is much larger than all the other birds we have (total of 6, Rhode Island Reds, Comets and these). The comb and such is also the most pronounced. We purchased the birds in September so they are going on 10-12 weeks and we've had 3 eggs but never caught the layer in action to know who it was. We just want to know if we need to separate this one so we have edible eggs, we're not interested in breeding. Thank you!

The pic doesn't enlarge when I click it, so I really can't see well enough to say. But, if those birds are indeed 10-12 weeks, that is a rooster. But then again, I'm not seeing how you're getting eggs from a hen that age, that's way too young to lay. I'd question the age when you bought them, and better pics will confirm the bird in question's gender.

Edit, fertilized eggs are perfectly edible. Several thread here about that. Keeping a rooster separate isn't good for his mental health. Either keep him with the flock, butcher him or rehome him.

 

[yardchicken4243]

Here it is a lot younger. The waddle and comb are very pronounced now. If indeed a male I'll look into eating the undeveloped eggs because as long as he keeps his noncrowing I can keep him and he's my little buddy.

 

[yardchicken4243]

Oh and if you look at my profile pic as a chick he's the one posing in the bowl.

 

[1876 Farm]

Agree, hen!!

 

[donrae]

Here it is a lot younger. The waddle and comb are very pronounced now. If indeed a male I'll look into eating the undeveloped eggs because as long as he keeps his noncrowing I can keep him and he's my little buddy.

How old was the bird at this time?

Can you get an updated profile pic of him now? And how positive are you on the age? Those birds are a lot older than 10 weeks.........

 

[yardchicken4243]

Well after staying up most of the night reading I believe its a Roo, especially since I found buds where the spurs should go. Here are two more pics though so I can get an official word. Praying he doesn't start crowing, just because I promised neighbors we were only getting girls. I would keep the guy now that I know the eggs are edible. Such a pretty and great tempered thing. I honestly have no idea how old. We got them end of August and they were the size in my profile pic. This is my first ever attempt at chickens and probably did not ask the correct questions even after reading 2 books. I'm so glad I found this forum. I'm learning so much!

 

[1876 Farm]

I would say the one in the middle is a rooster.. 1) you can see the pin feathers draped across the back near the tail and what a beautiful iridescent tail that he has. 2) rooster type tail. 3) large comb and wattles.

To give you an idea of how chicks age over time, I have a page (Chicken hatch 2013) on my blog ( www.wanderingcreekacres.blogspot.com ) that shows 6 chicks and how they have aged over 17 weeks. I think 5 of the 6 chicks that hatched are roosters... one attempted to crow around 18 weeks.

Welcome to the chicken world!!

 

[yardchicken4243]

Thank you for your patience and assistance!
Kids and I found another egg today and found the culprit... a comet. We're going to enjoy our Rooster as much as we can and pray he doesn't become a crower. He's a cool bird to have around.

 

[donrae]

Yep, that is a handsome rooster. Truthfully, you should start lining up a new home for him now, because he will crow, and you don't want to be rushed into a new home for him.