HEN OR ROOSTER

[lonestarfarmer]

i bought several baby chicks this past spring and summer. all supposed to be hens. this speckled sussex is six months old and up until recently has never given me any reason to believe that it is anything but a hen. a bit back i did hear it make sort of a crow once but then nothing. i wanted to add a roo and last week got a five month old who was already crowing and mating and a big buff mix. there was a short spat between the speckled and this roo in the beginning but not long and nothing really rough. since then tho i have heard the speckled trying to crow but really sounds terrible and ive caught it trying to mate with the hens when the other is looking away and such. ive heard that there have been times when a hen will act like a roo and just wondering if by looking at this bird any of you guys can tell. thanks for any replies in advance

 

[sylviethecochin]

That's a boy. I can't really see them clearly from your picture angles, but the shine of his feathers = hackle feathers to me.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

You have a Speckled Sussex cockerel. The wattles and comb are very large which is indicative of a cockerel.

 

[WildCHILD400]

Looks like a cockerel very pretty though

 

[lonestarfarmer]

Looks like a cockerel very pretty though

thank you all figured i had another guy and now just hope he can learn to play nice with the buff boss

 

[rebrascora]

How many pullets/hens do you have? They might be the ones that you need to be concerned about. Two adolescent cockerels with hormones raging is going to take it's toll on them, especially with Spring on the way. Your speckled guy is just slow to mature, but things may ramp up a bit now and you may end up with bare backed, harassed ladies. Keep an eye and ear out for the girls hiding on the roost and not coming down to eat or screaming blue murder because two males are both trying to mount her. It can get unpleasant for them.

 

[Folly's place]

You do have too few pullets for two cockerels; watch the group and decide which one stays. If things are calm, wait a while to make your decision.
Mary

 

[micstrachan]

He is GORGEOUS! I can’t find a number of pullets you have for the boys to share?

 

[rusty acres]

Definitely a cockerel, as you've already discovered. My first chicks last spring were 2 Speckled Sussex and 2 Easter Eggers. 3 out of the 4 turned out to be cockerels. I was in denial for a good while, because I loved my SS "girls" so much! They had great personalities, but I couldn't have 3 roos with 1 hen, especially when I only wanted hens. Hopefully you can figure a way for him to stay. He's a handsome boy!

 

[rebrascora]

@micstrachan
Checking out OPs other thread, they have a year old hen, a five month old pullet, four 6week old pullets and four small chicks, so with a bit of luck of the younger ones all being pullets, ten females in all but only 2 of breeding age and 2 randy cockerels.... poor girls!