Buff orpington- cockrel or pullet?

[crunchymama11]

Hey everyone, we have a 17 week old BO. We're pretty sure what gender it is but wanted to be 100% sure. We would greatly appreciate your help! And since we are new backyard chicken owners, will you please explain why so we can learn if we are wrong? Thank you! (Yes it is in our kitchen)

 

[HuffleClaw]

Beautiful cockerel!

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

100% Cockerel.

 

[Morrigan]

Cockerel. You can tell most easily by his golden "saddle" feathers which hang down on each side of his back near the tail. In males, the saddle feathers are narrow and pointy, like on your boy. In females they are rounded.

 

[crunchymama11]

Thank you. We were sure he was a cockerel (hence why he is in the kitchen- butcher day tomorrow) but wanted to be 100% positive before processing our middle daughter's favorite chicken. It's actually our 2nd cockerel. We processed our oldest daughter's favorite chicken 2 weeks ago (an EE cockerel). Why does it have to be our daughters' favorite chickens??

 

[Stepnout]

I'm new to chickens this year as well. Beautiful Cockerel, looking at the shiny saddle hackles and cape. The saddle hackles are those where an imaginary saddle would be placed on his back. The Barb of a rooster's saddle and cape hackles(feathers) are shiny and smooth, the Barbule's of the rooster's Barb are hardly noticeable.
The Hens saddle and cape hackles (feathers) are generally more rounded and the Barbs are not very shinny and the Barbule can be very fluffy so to speak.
If tying fishing flies one would use hen hackles for wet flies because they are fluffy and hold water making great action on a wet fishing fly (under water) When tying dry flies on would want to use Rooster hackles from the saddle or cape. these hackles have no fluffy Barbule and when tied correctly can actually support the weight of the fly imitating a floating insect.
Sorry a little long winded.....can you tell I am a fisherman and tie my own flies lol?

 

[Stepnout]

Here is a great video that can help everyone understand what chicken feathers are used for making fishing flies. I think we could all learn from this. You never know some folks might find this interesting enough to start producing these high quality genetics. Enjoy. I am not affiliated with this company but I have purchased and used several of their products.
Whiting produces some of the most beautiful fly tying feathers in North America

 

[crunchymama11]

Here is a great video that can help everyone understand what chicken feathers are used for making fishing flies. I think we could all learn from this. You never know some folks might find this interesting enough to start producing these high quality genetics. Enjoy. I am not affiliated with this company but I have purchased and used several of their products.
Whiting produces some of the most beautiful fly tying feathers in North America

Interesting- thanks! I'm not a fisherwoman but my brother is a fisherman.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Cockerel

 

[NoFlyBackFarm]

Could be a hen! I have a hen that had larger wattles at that age. Wait for the crow to truly tell. In fact it's so big it flops over now.