Delaware - Roo or Hen

[Saintarno]

Hi Everyone,
I’m new to raising chickens but I’ve had my girls since they hatched. One chick needed some extra attention when she was young and I affectionately named her Beatrice. They are now 6-7 weeks and I’ve noticed Bea is acting aggressive toward the other chicks. I never thought ‘she’ could be a ‘he’ but now I’m wondering. Would anyone be able to help me identify if ‘she’ is a Roo or Hen? Thank you!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Rooster

 

[Birds of a Feather]

He looks like a rooster.

 

[Saintarno]

I really appreciate the responses, although I wish ‘he’ was a ‘she’. When do they start crowing? I’ll have to look into the sound ordinance laws in my town as I’d like to keep him if I can.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most start around 3-4 months, but some start earlier and some later.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Why is it the "favorite" always ends up a cockerel? Hope you're able to keep him, I can't keep cockerels and have had to rehome

 

[Saintarno]

Sorry, last question...has anyone kept a rooster in their flock? If so, do you keep them separated? As cute as they are, I don’t want baby chicks.

 

[aglandaetap]

Sorry, last question...has anyone kept a rooster in their flock? If so, do you keep them separated? As cute as they are, I don’t want baby chicks.

You don’t need to keep roosters separated from the hens in order to avoid baby chicks. Baby chicks will only happen if you allow a broody hen sit on eggs (fertilized ones). Otherwise, keep taking the eggs from the nesting boxes on a daily basis and don’t allow any broody hen to hatch. In other words, it’s in your control of allowing baby chicks to happen or not. Unless the broody hen made a nest somewhere you don’t know about and she’s gone missing for 3 weeks, then you will have baby chicks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry, last question...has anyone kept a rooster in their flock? If so, do you keep them separated? As cute as they are, I don’t want baby chicks.

I have a bunch of roosters running around. Only I get to choose if I want anyone to raise chicks. A rooster is only one part of the scheme of making more chickens.

 

[Saintarno]

Thanks for the info. I’m very close to my neighbors and can’t keep my rooster. I’m in MA/Southern NH area. Anyone interested in adopting a handsome Delaware rooster?