Cockerel?

[Ted Brown]

I have eight of these little monsters, 7 weeks old and about half with reddish larger combs, waddles.

This is the first born (at 18 days, always the largest). We first thought male then switched to guessing female; I now believe it to be male?

 

[DobieLover]

With that much size and red at 7 weeks, I'd be leaning towards cockerel too.

 

[featheredplanets]

Cockerel for sure

 

[Trish1974]

Cockerel, and he is lovely!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

X3... Cockerel!

 

[The Angry Hen]

Very handsome cockerel for certain!

 

[Ted Brown]

Cockerel, and he is lovely!

Thank you!

It is odd, I also have seven ISA Brown pullets that I think are good looking birds - reds with lovely varied markings (one has a gold chest each feather of which is rimmed in white) so initially thought my black mixed breed 7 week olds were "plain". As they mature and with markings beginning to show I am not so sure.

This one "Fausto" is fathered by "Mario" a very dominant and pure black bird that unfortunately defended his flock against an owl once too often (not mine).

I have three or four males in the eight, will keep one. I am biased toward Fausto, of course, but what should I be looking for in making that decision?

 

[ValerieJ]

For me, when it comes to cockerels/roosters it's all about personality. I want a nice guy who looks after his girls and doesn't tear them up. He has to be people friendly as well.

 

[red horse ranch]

He appears to be mostly Australorp and they make really good roosters. I've had a lot of them over the years. They are usually good with the hens and respectful of me. His personality when the hormones hit at 3 to 4 months is what determines who I will keep. Any aggression from any cockerel will mean freezer camp.

 

[aart]

I have three or four males in the eight, will keep one. I am biased toward Fausto, of course, but what should I be looking for in making that decision?

Very hard to make that choice...behaviors can change as they mature,
and the other males have an affect on all their behaviors.
Just pick one and go for it.