COMET ROOSTER OR HEN!

[Abesinger]

Hello This spring i got six pullets but I'm thinking i got a rooster. MY birds are 11-12 weeks old. I'm going to upload the picture of the rostrer. pls help
(10 weeks)
(10 weeks)
(10 weeks)
(11 weeks)

In case any you wanted to know the ducks there are kahki campbells the one behind the "rooster" is a male and the one just behind him is a male to, the rest are gals. BOTH chickens and ducks are 11 weeks currently (5/29/15)

 

[GitaBooks]

He looks a lot like a rooster, I agree!
However, I thought that the Comet roosters were always white with golden hackles and only the females were red.

They are pretty chickens and ducks!

Best of luck.

 

[Abesinger]

thanks so much!

 

[chicken pickin]

They all look like pullets to me.

 

[Abesinger]

I hope so!

 

[junebuggena]

Those are all red sexlink pullets. Males would be white with some red.

 

[donrae]

They're all pullets. A male sex link would be white with patches of red on the wings. He'd stick out easily in your flock.

 

[Abesinger]

I thought that too but the only thing that I'm second guessing is his coloration in his neck and he's very pointy feathers on his tail .. i have never had a rooster so I'm no expert but my neighbor said he might be one (old farmer). if you could explain to me what defines a rooster from a hen it would be much appreciated. -alec

 

[GitaBooks]

I thought that too but the only thing that I'm second guessing is his coloration in his neck and he's very pointy feathers on his tail .. i have never had a rooster so I'm no expert but my neighbor said he might be one (old farmer). if you could explain to me what defines a rooster from a hen it would be much appreciated. -alec

In my experience, roosters tend to stand more upright, they have longer tail feathers that begin to curve into a sickle. They have thicker hackles and saddle feathers that fall down like a horses mane. They tend to walk with a firmer step and throw their legs out, like they think highly of themselves. They have a larger, brighter comb and wattles. They develop large, sharp spurs on their legs (this generally takes a little while though), and they are larger in size. They also crow (though I've heard one of my hens crow also, which was really weird).

 

[chicken pickin]

@GitaBooks makes some good points.

Males will typically develop a noticeably larger comb and wattles before the pullets it will also turn red much sooner this can happen as early as 6-8weeks of age some males take a little longer. Saddle and hackle feathers will start to come in and be noticeable around 12-16 weeks of age, these feathers can appear shiny also skinny and pointy not rounded like hen feathers. Sickle feathers are the 2 longest feathers that grow in a males tail and they will not stick up straight but curve over these feathers are long and females don't have these. Males will also start to grow larger than the pullets. Last the males grow spurs but that happens much later (hens can grow spurs also but it is less common). Crowing can happen anytime from day olds-6months or even longer.

What makes you think that one chicken is a male. They all look very similar with nothing standing out as odd to me to make me think male. And like others have mentioned Golden Comets are Sexlinks, males of this cross would be white with red patches. If you feel her neck coloring is a little different my guess is because it is a cross breed and not all will be completely identical, though they will all be very similar.