Help! I think my Cochin is a male!

[Peachesbabychick]

Hi everybody, well I thought for sure that my blue cochin was a hen.
Now that she is almost 6 months old I am thinking otherwise because "she" appears to have long skinny shiny saddle feathers, and neck feathers.

The strange things are this: "she" hasn't crowed, she hasn't done, (or even tried) to do the mounting thing with my girls, my girls are in charge of "her". I thought that she layed an egg also, because a couple weeks ago ( before the cold) there was a tiny, cream colored egg in the nest box.

So here are my questions: When do Cochins normally crow, or lay eggs? Is it normal that a hen has shiny and pointy "saddle" feathers? I am puzzled.

I am sorry I can't get pics today because I am going to be really busy for the rest of the day.

Help!

 

[BlazeJester]

From what I understand, cochins are a slowly maturing breed and pretty docile. If you have him with females of a more headstrong breed, like rocks, he may remain docile.... or he just hasn't sexually matured yet, which I think is more likely.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Hens DO NOT have thin pointy shiny hackle nor saddle feathers. If your roo isn't the master of his flock, he may not crow at all and he may not be ready to exert his love on the girls just yet.

 

[Peachesbabychick]

Ok, well I am really bummed about that.

Thanks for your information.

 

[HenThymes]

To answer your questions...NO a pullet will NOT have pointy saddle feathers that is all cockerel. Just because it has not crowed yet doesn't mean anything. Allot of younger males will not crow if there are other males around in order not to draw unwanted attention to themselves until they feel they are old enough to stand their own ground with other males. As for no eggs, allot of pullets won't start to lay until they are older, even upwards of 7-9 months old. I have even had some wait till they were almost 10 months old before gracing me with their first egg.

 

[Peachesbabychick]

I was afraid of this.

 

[hdowden]

do you have a pic to post before you make the final choice on "her"

 

[Peachesbabychick]

I will try to get a pic. Going to the coop right now.

I really hope I am seeing things and it turns out to be a manly hen or something.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I have a LF Cochin boy who's almost 8 months old. I saw him mount one of the pullets last week, and heard him crow for the very first time today. They mature very slowly. Here's a pic of my boy to help you compare, he's black though...but it'll should help you see the manliness for yourself

Him with his favorite lady

 

[cochin_kookoo]

It does sound like a cockerel. I thought I had a barred cochin hen but because of him developing saddle feathers I began to wonder. Sure enough I caught him mounting one of my hens the other day. I still haven't heard him crow and he is now eight months old.