Hen or Rooster?

[R20]

We were given (4) baby chicks 5 months ago. (Black Orpington) they are growing bigger and I believe this one is a Rooster. Hasn’t started crowing yet. Thoughts?

 

[JedJackson]

It is a black sex link pullet.

 

[Flockking]

X2

 

[AinaWGSD]

Agree, definitely a pullet. At 5 months a male would have thin, pointy saddle feathers and this birds feathers are all rounded. I would also expect the comb and wattles to be bigger and brighter red. Looks like a black sexlink, although she could be a black orpington crossed with a buff or red orpington.

 

[R20]

It is a black sex link pullet.

I figured out it’s black. The question was hen or rooster.

 

[R20]

Agree, definitely a pullet. At 5 months a male would have thin, pointy saddle feathers and this birds feathers are all rounded. I would also expect the comb and wattles to be bigger and brighter red. Looks like a black sexlink, although she could be a black orpington crossed with a buff or red orpington.

Thanks. So it’s a hen. Appreciate it. It just looks so much bigger and more masculine than all my other 20 hens. But i did notice the comb wasn’t as predominant like a rooster.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I figured out it’s black. The question was hen or rooster.

Appears to be a pullet. At about 5 months, most cockerels would be obvious.

Pullet = female chicken under 1 year of age
Hen = female chicken 1 year or older
Cockerel = male chicken under 1 year of age
Rooster = male chicken 1 year and older

People are pointing out that it appears to be a cross that's called a "black sex link". They often have red/gold pattern like that. ONLY the females look like that with a black sex link, and the males look different.

*edit to add- I suppose it is black "with color leakage" ?

It isn't solid black, so it isn't a "black orpington".
But as somebody else mentioned, if one parent was a black orpington, and the other parent was a buff orpington (etc), then it could have that color/pattern. (And would be an orpington, but wouldn't be a black orpington)