Black Star Adolescent-Male or Female?

[Serial Hobbyist]

Is there anyone directly familiar with black star chickens? I ordered from McMurray hatchery in June. This chick was all black with no head dot. Is it possible that this is a hen? It’s a beloved pet, not just a temporary meat bird. I’m very reluctant to re-home it. Please help me identify the gender, because l’m not allowed to have a rooster within city limits.

 

[JedJackson]

It's a male olive egger, not a black star. Males of that variety would be barred.

 

[Little Baby Bean]

It's a male olive egger, not a black star. Males of that variety would be barred.

Agreed

 

[JustBabyMargo]

I think it’s an EE rooster because Murray McMurray doesn’t sell olive eggers.

 

[Serial Hobbyist]

It's a male olive egger, not a black star. Males of that variety would be barredWhat identifying characteristics help

It's a male olive egger, not a black star. Males of that variety would be barred.

What identifying characteristics make it male? I’d like to learn from this experience.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Red on the wings

 

[JustBabyMargo]

What identifying characteristics make it male? I’d like to learn from this experience.

Red comb and wattles, pointy and shiny hackles and saddle feathers, giant legs, boy specific coloring, and at this age he has shiny long rooster tail feathers.

 

[JedJackson]

What identifying characteristics make it male? I’d like to learn from this experience.

There are several. In this instance the bird is all black but the red feathers coming in on the shoulders and lower back indicate a male. If you look closely at the lower back, the slim, pointed red feathers coming in on the sides are characteristic of males. These are called saddle feathers. Female saddle feathers look much the same as their other feathers, being broader and rounder.

The bright red feathers on the shoulders are an easy way to tell a cockerel early on, in most varieties.

Also, his tail. At adolescence, or some times later, males will develop the longer, flowing tail feathers. And when a male has a black tail, there is usually a bright green iridescence to those feathers.

It really just takes time to notice these things, and close inspection. Anyone can do it with practice.

 

[Serial Hobbyist]

It’s been a tough identification for me. McMurray has two lines of Black Star chickens. One line is predominantly black with a red chest. The second line is barred with a grey chest. The above image is their female black star, which has green iridescence and random flecks of dark red that occur primarily on the neck, but also throughout the body. The females also sport a red crest.

 

[Serial Hobbyist]

I can’t base the identity on some of the responses listed, because of these varying features.