Help! Is this a rooster?

[colin2]

This chicken was sold to us as a sex linked chicken, but today he/she started chasing around a hen and tried mating with her. I always assumed she was a hen bc the other roosters try to mate with her. Any ideas? The man who sold her/him to us seemed a little shaky on which color chick was the male and which was the female. We have 2 other roosters who do a lot of crowing, so I can't be certain if I've heard anything from this one. Could it be that he's a rooster and is just getting picked on by the more dominant ones? I hope not! Thanks.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

How old is it?

 

[colin2]

About 22 weeks old give or take...

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Sorry but yes its a rooster.

 

[colin2]

Is that based on looks or behavior would you say?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Both but more on looks.

 

[sezjasper]

Colin, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but I'm also trying to learn...and I'm hoping the last poster, Willowbranchfarm, can explain to all of us just what he/she sees in that picture that says "rooster." I'm wondering because none of my 20-week chickens are laying yet, and I'm getting to the point where I think they're ALL roosters lol Willowbranch, can you help us? Thanks!

 

[willowbranchfarm]

The Hackle feathers (neck feathers) on roosters are pointed and on hens there rounded. Roosters get really long pointed saddle feathers hens don't. The comb and wattles just vary for breeds and they can be huge on hens so you cant always tell based on that. My hens didn't start laying till they were 25 weeks. Some hens take forever to lay it just depends. I hope this helps.

 

[sezjasper]

Thank you! Are you talking about the black feathers that are sort of laying across the chicken's back, just behind the base of the neck? And--could you possibly post or direct me/us to a picture of rounded hackle feathers for comparison's sake? I really appreciate your help, and I'm sure many other members will, too! Colin, thanks to you and your beautiful chicken for your helpful thread!

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is a production red, not a red sex link. Red Sex Links are red/brown=pullet and cream/white=cockerel.

That is a production red. A better picture would have been of the bird standing. Looking toward the tail area, a cockerel at 18 weeks or even sooner, will start displaying long feathers cascading down his rear thigh area. These are typically thin, shiny and long. These are saddle feathers. Yes, the feather at the neck, called hackles, likewise.

When they are younger, say at 8 weeks, the sexing is somewhat accurate based on thick, longer legs on the males and the emergence of combs and wattles much earlier than the females. Sometimes a particular bird is a sneaker, and fools you, but generally, this holds true.