Hen or roo? 18 weeks old. Very puzzled. Help

[Skyleen13]

I’ve got a 18 week old chicken who I’m not to sure if it’s a pullet or cockerel. Please help. It’s making crow like sounds but I know that some hens do that as well as roosters. It’s a black australorp langshan cross. 1st pick is of tail & saddle feathers. Last pic is of its neck feathers. Both seem pointed until I see the fine filaments around the edge of feathers that round them.

 

[lilmillefleur]

I'm not sure what the filaments mean, but everything else points to a definite cockerel.

 

[citymeetscountry]

At 18 weeks I’d expect a brighter red comb if it were cockerel so I would think pullet

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Those saddle feathers look awefully pointy. The tail feathers are also very curved. I vote cockerel.

 

[Folly's place]

It's hard to see the whole bird, but I'm betting that it's a late developing cockerel too.
Give us all a follow-up in a few weeks!
Pullets aren't going to crow either, if that's what you are hearing.
Mary

 

[Skyleen13]

Aright. I’ll give it a few weeks.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I will say male, but yeah, try again in a few weeks.

 

[Granny23]

At 18 weeks I’d expect a brighter red comb if it were cockerel so I would think pullet

My "hen" Pepper looks just like that but "she" doesn't have bright red combs either. Since she was a "stray" and we are guessing on age Id say she's about 14 weeks. In my posts people are saying they think she is a he as in rooster. She has tried to crow, (if you can call it a crow, it is hilarious actually) a few times in the past 2 weeks. We are devestated because if Pepper is a rooster we can't keep her, him. Our neighbors would not be happy. BUT. We've also heard that hens with no rooster will sometimes try to crow so our fingers are crossed.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

My "hen" Pepper looks just like that but "she" doesn't have bright red combs either. Since she was a "stray" and we are guessing on age Id say she's about 14 weeks. In my posts people are saying they think she is a he as in rooster. She has tried to crow, (if you can call it a crow, it is hilarious actually) a few times in the past 2 weeks. We are devestated because if Pepper is a rooster we can't keep her, him. Our neighbors would not be happy. BUT. We've also heard that hens with no rooster will sometimes try to crow so our fingers are crossed.View attachment 2801274

If it is trying to crow you have a cockerel.

 

[NatJ]

She has tried to crow, (if you can call it a crow, it is hilarious actually) a few times in the past 2 weeks. We are devestated because if Pepper is a rooster we can't keep her, him. Our neighbors would not be happy. BUT. We've also heard that hens with no rooster will sometimes try to crow so our fingers are crossed.

If crowing would annoy your neighbors, then a crowing hen would be just as bad as a crowing rooster.

I think you should find a new home for this bird, no matter what gender it is. Or at least be prepared to rehome it if/when the neighbors complain.