Help with figuring out gender of chicken

[bubbalucas]

Hello!

I'm hoping that someone can provide me with some insight.

Last summer, I ordered 8 Splash Ameraucana eggs and incubated them - 1 hatched and is still alive. That chicken is now 6 months old and I am having a difficult time determining it's gender.

My other roosters, who are relatively the same age, have been crowing for maybe 4 months, but this one chicken in particular randomly started about 1 month and a half ago.

This chicken doesn't have very much of a comb at all either.

This is the part that really confuses me - earlier last week this chicken began stepping on other hens and grabbing at their necks, which I believe is what they do when they're mating?

I've attached a few photos.

Hoping someone can clear this up for me, thanks !

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I think that is a cockerel

 

[Noraaaaa]

That would be a rooster! Note the saddle feathers (behind wings, like streamers).

Some chickens just have smaller combs.

Yes! That is mating! The rooster will perform a dance display, often with struting and wing dropping, then jump onto the hen (hold on to head with his beak and stand on back) and quickly touch his vent to hers.

Your bird is so pretty!

 

[bubbalucas]

I think that is a cockerel

Thank you for your assistance!!

 

[bubbalucas]

That would be a rooster! Note the saddle feathers (behind wings, like streamers).

Some chickens just have smaller combs.

Yes! That is mating! The rooster will perform a dance display, often with struting and wing dropping, then jump onto the hen (hold on to head with his beak and stand on back) and quickly touch his vent to hers.

Your bird is so pretty!

Thank you so much for clearing that up! Do you have any advice or insight if the hens sort of reject him?

 

[Noraaaaa]

Thank you so much for clearing that up! Do you have any advice or insight if the hens sort of reject him?

Ofc!

And: they usually won't. If they do the rooster will just sort of get mad and continue to try. He won't mate them too much and usually, the hens don't care at all.

If they do get mad then it's probably because he is pulling out too many feathers (or over-mateing). That can hurt the hen.
If that happens it looks like this:

If that happens remove the rooster from the flock for a day. You will also need to put saddles on your hens. Here is the link for that!

 

[bubbalucas]

Ofc!

And: they usually won't. If they do the rooster will just sort of get mad and continue to try. He won't mate them too much and usually, the hens don't care at all.

If they do get mad then it's probably because he is pulling out too many feathers (or over-mateing). That can hurt the hen.
If that happens it looks like this: View attachment 4043352

If that happens remove the rooster from the flock for a day. You will also need to put saddles on your hens. Here is the link for that!

Thank you!!! I appreciate it!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I think that is a cockerel

Oh and
Hes very pretty!!

 

[Noraaaaa]

Thank you!!! I appreciate it!

Any time!

 

[Noraaaaa]

Oh and
Hes very pretty!!

OMG WELCOME!!!!!!!! I DIDN'T REALISE!