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)

 

[redinator]

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

Sex links are chickens that are bred so the males and females can be told apart at hatch here are some examples: https://hoovershatchery.com/black-sex-link
https://hoovershatchery.com/cinnamon-queen

There are several crosses that can be used to make a sexlink, but I'm learning about that aspect of breeding.

Pullet is the term used for a young hen (under 1 year) and cockerel is a young rooster (under 1 year).