Buff Orpington Roo?

[cafrhe]

My girls are 18 weeks old and a while ago I thought I might have a rir rooster, but was assured that they were girls. All the buffs looked like girls and then I started paying more attention to them this week and I think I have to have a rooster! I do want a rooster, but actually wanted a rir. This chicken is the sweetest one we have who is always the 1st to approach for snacks and allows petting.

the other 2. Small comb and wattle and med comb and wattle


The chicken in question. We are still calling her 'her', but I am thinking we are now wrong!


Roo??


Thanks for your help!

 

[BorneHomestead]

looks like a hen to me, the feathers look rounded and not pointed like a roos would be and I do not see any saddle or sickle feathers that stand out like a roos would.

 

[cafrhe]

I am getting confused lol! My daughter was looking for the pointed feathers etc and we didnt find any. But wow is the wattle and comb huge compared to the other girls. And some of the tail feathers seem to be growing longer??? I did assume we would have known earlier than 18 weeks as well. This is our 1st time raising chickens from babies, so no real clue!!

Thanks! If she is not a he, then we will continue to look for a he to compliment the rest of the girls. Looking for a RIR rooster actually.

 

[cafrhe]

So, does everyone who looked agree that she is a girl?? I have a total of 10 girls and do want a rooster. If I have all girls, I will keep looking for a rooster.

I guess I could also be patient and if she lays in a few weeks, she's a girl!

Thanks!!

 

[suzannevans]

I hate to be the devil's advocate on this one but I would say that is a cockerel. Orpingtons are slower to mature than some of the other breeds. Had one "Nosey Rose" didn't become "Nosey" until he was almost 20 weeks old

and he was the BEST rooster I have ever seen and very sadly missed

 

[abserbean]

The feathers do still look like a pullet, but that comb/wattles are all cockerel. Like suzannevans said, BO are slow to mature, and a lot can change in a few weeks. I am going to say rooster, but a few more weeks would help to determine. I had a friend whose BO rooster didn't "show himself" until five months!

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks! I think it would be wise for me to put off looking for a rooster for a few more weeks then.

I thought we were way passed the sex i.d. phase of growth so I havent been staring at wattles/combs for a while. I was surprised! This one is the nicest chicken we have. A truely sweet bird.

 

[abserbean]

It may still be a hen, and she is just closer to laying than the others, but I would def. give it a few weeks to see before getting a new roo! I hope it is a roo, since it is so sweet, that would work out well for your flock.

 

[cafrhe]

As long as he's (if she's a he!) not so sweet that he doesnt kick the crap out of one of my cats who is debating how much fun chickens are!!! He hasnt quite decided if it is wise to chase one, but he sure is thinking about it...

 

[BantamLover21]

I'm leaning towards hen that is close to laying, but that comb and wattles sure look like that of a cockerel. You should know for sure in a few weeks, since if "it" is a hen, it will start laying, and should begin crowing if it is a rooster.