Crowing Pullet?? 9.5 weeks - Mottled Ancona

[shelabobby]

Okay we are at 9.5 weeks. I was very confidant we had all pullets this year but Elenor crowed this morning and now I am very confused. We stood there in shock along with the other two Pullets trying to figure out what we heard.

I had 2 accidental TS Roosters last year so I felt confidant in my rooster identification.

Comb and Waddle - Short and Pale
Legs - Not Thick but no other of this breed to compare
Saddle Feathers - Not long and pointy but still young
Sickle Feathers - Not old enough I feel
Hackel Feathers - Not saying Cockerel but still young

We do have a Rooster from last year but he is in his own run and coop but visible to the hen run. We are in the process of integration to our Hens (not going smooth due to a bully but thats a whole other story).

I've looked up Mottled Ancona on here and I feel like I would expect bigger Comb and Waddles at this age with a Cockerel.

What do you guys say? Do I have the elusive crowing hen or is Nori a Noro?

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

Since you heard it crow and the way its tail feathers look to me (a newbie) I think it is a cockerel. The comb is small, but it may just be slow growing. Wait for people with experience to answer though

LORD JESUS IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Pullet. It might be someone else then. Also, this young it won't sound like a proper crow but instead sound very weird.

ETA: The comb is super pale and not pink or red at all which reaffirms my guess

 

[Jener8or]

At this age, you only have (sometimes) feather coloration, and comb and wattles to go off of (and the crowing!) They usually won't get male hackle and saddle feathers until about 12 weeks or so.

There are rarely cases of crowing pullets. The comb and wattles are getting a little red, but I agree, they are not a dead-giveaway that says cockerel to me yet. It looks like males have less mottling on their backs in this breed, and with the crowing, I think slow developing cockerel on this one, too.

 

[Pigeony]

Yeah at 9 weeks, you would hear the chicken equivalent of a squeaky toy. If it actually sounded like a regular crow, I don't think this bird could possibly be the culprit.

 

[The Moonshiner]

If it actually crowed at 9 1/2 weeks old I'm voting cockerel

 

[TOMTE]

Looks like a pullet so far but it's still young to tell for sure. I'm also going to agree that if the bird actually crowed, it's probably a cockerel. Pullets and hens can crow but usually only if 1) they're very dominant, usually in a flock without a roo 2) they have reproductive/hormonal issues.

 

[shelabobby]

Pullet. It might be someone else then. Also, this young it won't sound like a proper crow but instead sound very weird.

ETA: The comb is super pale and not pink or red at all which reaffirms my guess

Yeah at 9 weeks, you would hear the chicken equivalent of a squeaky toy. If it actually sounded like a regular crow, I don't think this bird could possibly be the culprit.

I watched her crow but yes it was for sure a weird pre-pubescent crow. I was so sure we had all girls

 

[FarmerGirl101]

I watched her crow but yes it was for sure a weird pre-pubescent crow. I was so sure we had all girls

Keep an eye on her/him then. At this age it should be obvious that you have a cockerel but I'm not noticing that in this chick. If this were my chick I would say pullet but since you saw her crow then she might actually be a cockerel. Give it a few weeks and see what happens.

 

[shelabobby]

I think that is the plan for now. Wait and see. I will do my best to update here once we know for sure