Got this chicken at a poultry auction and have no idea what it is.

[Ol Grey Mare]

The lack of wattles its due to the beard on this bird, bearded birds have small/no wattles

 

[braehedge]

Sometimes a bird seems like a hen, but then turns out to be a rooster. One of the reasons why I usually like to buy 18 week old pullets.

 

[SAZUGT]

I have seen the behavior you're talking about in my BBS Ameracaunas. The roosters can be pretty timid and even picked on for up to their first year. My most recent guys were 13 months before I even heard an attempt at a crow.

On the plus side, if that guy is bred to any of your other hens, there is a chance he has the blue egg gene. Any hens hatched with his genetics would have eggs ranging in color from brown to full on olive green which is kind of cool! Good luck and don't despair, this hobby is all about learning and we've all been there.

 

[donrae]

I'm thinking he's simply on the young side, maybe 4-5ish months old. That explains the lack of crowing or asserting himself with the ladies. Just give it time, as spring hits so will his hormones.

 

[chicken14]

I have the same rooster. He was in the easter egger bin at a local feed store. He started crowing when he was about 5 or months. He heard our other surprise rooster crow and started to try crowing.