Breed & sex

[Famersam]

I bought from the local farm and home and just labeled “bantam” I am wondering if someone can help me identify the breed and let me know if it’s a rooster. Approx 10 weeks old.

Also, if she is a rooster can I put her with my flock and still produce unfertilized edible eggs? Any help and tips are appreciated I am brand new to having chickens. Thank you!

 

[Ladybird CA]

Mille Fleur d'Uccle, looks like a rooster. The eggs might turn out fertilized in about a month

 

[HomeHatcher22]

i dont tj=hink it is a rooster only the saddle feathers and the tail feathers are rounded.

 

[GoldenChooks]

Yes you can still get unfertilized eggs but you can still eat the egg if it is fertilized as well. Unfertilized eggs are not the only edible eggs.

 

[Ladybird CA]

well the comb and wattles are red for a 10 week old, maybe i'm wrong

 

[Table4Six]

He is a Mille Fleur Booted Bantam. Super cute! They are basically non bearded and muffed D'uccles and they have the dark, slate colored shanks.

i dont tj=hink it is a rooster only the saddle feathers and the tail feathers are rounded.

At ten weeks old he won't be sporting his hackle or saddle feathers yet. And at this age especially, his comb and wattles are much too red to be a pullet.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I would agree.....based on the large comb and wattles and the dark red coloring, I would say you have a beautiful cockerel! Adult feathering will start around week 12.

 

[chickendreams24]

Cockeral(generally considered a rooster after 1 year of age).

A ten week old pullet would not have that comb growth. Also I believe I am seeing pointy saddle and hackles beginning to come in and the deep red in the shoulder area seems to be appearing as well. That is gender specific coloring male only if that deep red continues to deveold and is only in the shoulder.

I'm really glad someone mentioned to you that you can eat fertile eggs. It's an old wivestale that they can't be eaten and many people sadly still believe it. As long as you pick up your eggs every day and don't incubate them or allow a hen to set on them for several days you will never open an egg and find a chick. If you're worried you can always use a flashlight to candle the eggs before cracking. Having a rooster in the flock will also not increase the odds of bloodspots/meat spots. These are totally normal and can occur on occasion, oviduct lining does have to renew itself just like any tissue. If your hens are large fowl your cockeral may have a hard time breeding them but it is completely possible.

Many peoepp live places where cockerals/roosters are not allowed but if you live some place and want to keep your little boy go for it. He won't increase egg production or decrease it. He will be cute and entertaining and he will (if he is a good cockeral) take care of his ladies.

On a side note as he matures his hormones may at first make him pretty rough with the girls as he figures things out. For this reason many people end up getting rid of cockerals or sometimes separate them while they get their hormones under control. How many pullets/hens do you have? Are they penned constantly?

If they are allowed to free range they will be able to avoid his advances better.

 

[GoldenChooks]

Cockeral(generally considered a rooster after 1 year of age).

A ten week old pullet would not have that comb growth. Also I believe I am seeing pointy saddle and hackles beginning to come in and the deep red in the shoulder area seems to be appearing as well. That is gender specific coloring male only if that deep red continues to deveold and is only in the shoulder.

I'm really glad someone mentioned to you that you can eat fertile eggs. It's an old wivestale that they can't be eaten and many people sadly still believe it. As long as you pick up your eggs every day and don't incubate them or allow a hen to set on them for several days you will never open an egg and find a chick. If you're worried you can always use a flashlight to candle the eggs before cracking. Having a rooster in the flock will also not increase the odds of bloodspots/meat spots. These are totally normal and can occur on occasion, oviduct lining does have to renew itself just like any tissue. If your hens are large fowl your cockeral may have a hard time breeding them but it is completely possible.

Many peoepp live places where cockerals/roosters are not allowed but if you live some place and want to keep your little boy go for it. He won't increase egg production or decrease it. He will be cute and entertaining and he will (if he is a good cockeral) take care of his ladies.

On a side note as he matures his hormones may at first make him pretty rough with the girls as he figures things out. For this reason many people end up getting rid of cockerals or sometimes separate them while they get their hormones under control. How many pullets/hens do you have? Are they penned constantly?

If they are allowed to free range they will be able to avoid his advances better.

Very well explained! I have to keep on reminding people that we give eggs to that a blood spot does not mean that the egg is fertile and explain how it's caused

 

[Alexandra33]

Mille Fleur Booted bantam cockerel. He lacks beard and muffs, which rules out d'Uccle.

He's still a little young yet to begin showing male-specific plumage. Until then, his feathers will appear pullet-like.

~Alex