Buff Orpington Hen or Roo

[Crazy4chickens2018]

Who wants to play “The rooster or hen “ guessing game with me?? This is Nellie and she is a 25ish week old buff Orpington. She is huge and I think she has laid an egg but I can’t be sure because I have a bunch that are coming in to lay. I bought her as a pullet and she looked and acted like one up until last week when I saw her mount one of the other chickens. Her comb has gotten a bit bigger and brighter too. She has never crowed and she is usually quite skiddish. Does not have a rooster personality but that mounting thing and her enormous size has got me thinking she is a roo. We do have a rooster and I have never seen him interested in her, but I doubt he would be able to do anything even if he wanted to because she is so fast! What do you think?? Roo or hen???

 

[Willowspirit]

My biggest Orp looks just like your girl. She even sort of crows! She sez er ah er ah HONK! So I vote pullet.

 

[Crazy4chickens2018]

Well who ever guessed rooster....you were right! He’s a roo!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like a big beautiful hen to me.

 

[Jandsloch]

Definately an egg layer...my profile pic is of my boy at 4 months there’s a definate difference.

 

[Painted Calls]

Beautiful fluffy pullet!

 

[BaaKaaawk]

(Changed my mind, lol) It's (not) a girl! I posted below why I changed my mind.

 

[john_wrightson2003]

Eh, I see large red wattles and combs, and very pointy hackle feathers. Im thinkin its a roo.

 

[Crazy4chickens2018]

S/he stands taller than my
Buffies, and the comb and wattles are bigger and redder than mine. I’m no expert - not even sure what I would look for in feathers - but my gals have a somewhat different look. I have no idea if these are variations or sex differences.

Does she squat?

I haven’t seen her squat. She is very timid around me and runs like a dickens if I try to catch her.

 

[Crazy4chickens2018]

Those legs too. After looking at pics of mine it became pretty evident but man those buffs are super similar. (And there are big variations inside the breed). I'm really surprised this one is not crowing yet though.

Her legs are humongous and her feet are as big as my hand but this is what she looked like about a month or so ago. Looks like a hen to me