gender?

[jj384ev]

I'm trying to confirm whether my two oldest chickens are roosters or hens, or one of each. They are the same age and similar in size with one only having a slightly smaller comb and waddle. One is crowing a goofy sounding crow and the other is not making a peep. I am almost positive the RIR is a rooster and the Barred is a hen. The barred also seems way to dark to be a rooster. They are both a little over 4months. Do you agree? I've been told hens can crow. Since "Reds" crow is kind of odd and not the full cock a doodle doo Ive heard from others Im just not sure. Maybe if it is a rooster, hes still learning how? I also am not seeing any kind of spur developing. The feet look similar to all our other birds, just bigger since they are older.
Neither are aggressive in any way and I hate to get rid of our RIR "Red" by mistakening for a rooster, which we can't have in our town. Thanks for the help!

 

[fshinggrl]

Un-expert advice? Red is a roo. The other (BR) looks like a pullet ready to lay.

 

[subhanalah]

One cockerel and one pullet, I think. Especially if she lays an egg soon by the color of that comb!

 

[jj384ev]

That was my thought too. The barred should be getting really close to laying. She makes no kind of sounds other than a deep throaty whining when you pick her up and pet her. Kind of like when a cat purrs. She's very round and although her comb came in the same time as "Red's" it seems to have completely stopped growing. His doesn't seem a ton bigger but seems more full. The Barred is just as tall as red with big feet but she hasn't seemed to have grown much in the last few weeks. She seems to be getting more round.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I don't see saddle feather and think hackle feathers are too wide and rounded to be a cockerel. The odd crow sound is likely an egg song and your about to have fresh breakfasts. Both look to be laying any day now.

 

[jj384ev]

[U

So you think both are pullets?

 

[Sunshine0235]

Red is a roo. In the first/second picture I can see shiny pointy saddle feathers.

 

[subhanalah]

And he's getting curved sickle feathers.

 

[farmerChef]

red is a def male. shiny pointed hackle(neck) and saddle(back) feathers are coming in.

not sure on the barred, but I think its a pullet. Look for the pointed feathers coming in on the back, you may have to spread the feathers. Barred males are usually lighter. If she is close to laying, her butt will start to get poofier, because it is stretching out for egg laying. Some almost look like a kid with a full diaper (usually older hens that have been laying awhile)

 

[jj384ev]

Red's neck feathers are definitely getting shiny and the tail feathers on the tail are becoming kind of spread out.