Delaware hen crowing?

[Frazzemrat1]

well i think he is a rooster look at wattle and combView attachment 1631910

yea, but OP said that this chicken is 5 months old... that's 20 weeks. This bird is getting to point of lay, hence the red. There's absolutely no male feathering, and a cockerel at 20 weeks would have MUCH larger comb and wattles. Additionally, I believe the bird behind the Delaware in that pic is a light brahma. The reason I think that is simply because it doesn't appear to have a single comb. It wouldn't be showing a comb at that angle only because pea combs lay flatter to the head than a single comb, or even a rose comb.

 

[DobieLover]

This was my Delaware cockerel at 19 weeks. LOTS of male specific saddle feathers.

 

[rebrascora]

This was my Delaware cockerel at 19 weeks. LOTS of male specific saddle feathers.
View attachment 1631994

Very handsome indeed! Not all birds mature at the same rate though and in the middle of summer they will usually mature faster than in winter.
I agree that the OPs bird looks to be a pullet, but I'm just not ruling out that it is a slow developing cockerel at this stage. It would be interesting to see some video footage of it crowing if the OP is able to capture it.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I agree that the OPs bird looks to be a pullet, but I'm just not ruling out that it is a slow developing cockerel at this stage.

I will admit I considered this as well... The Delaware I had developed very slowly. And agree that's a whole lotta red for winter time maturing.

Additionally, I believe the bird behind the Delaware in that pic is a light brahma. The reason I think that is simply because it doesn't appear to have a single comb. It wouldn't be showing a comb at that angle only because pea combs lay flatter to the ehead than a single comb

I agree.. you can't compare the two birds with different combs and different breeds. Sometimes even in the same breed and the same parents there can be significant differences in maturation rates..

I do still think pullet. But I love to see the discussion and different experiences.

 

[Chickassan]

Pullet, delawares are just sort of manly....that sounds awful but it isn't ment to! The one dellie here if she didn't lay she might as well be a rooster. If yours was actually male you'd know, trust me males are VERY obvious.

 

[Cyprus]

FYI, Delaware's carry sex-linked barring that can be seen at hatch and as they feather in. Females are silver Columbian. Males are silver Columbian barred.
Females have no barring, males do. This can be seen at any age of a Delaware chicken.
Since this bird has no barring, it is a definite female per the breed's genetics.

This bird cannot be a male Delaware.

 

[imnukensc]

We have been housing the rooster and hens separate at night and letting them stay together during the day

Why are you separating the rooster from the hens at night?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Why are you separating the rooster from the hens at night?

I meant to mention that too... night time separation is irrelevant... all the male antics of mating and such take place during the day time.