Hen or rooster?

[Rhondax6]

We thought it a rooster from it's appearance but it laid an egg right in front of us today. Sadly we were holding her and it fell to the ground and broke.

 

[jprice2ndlt]

How old is it? I has a big comb and wattles. It looks like a roo to me but if it laid an egg then it has to be a hen.

 

[Rhondax6]

He/She is 17 weeks old.

 

[ranchhand]

White leghorn? The pullets/hens have big combs. Too bad about the first egg, but I don't eat the first few anyway. The hen is still practicing sometimes, and doesn't always get it right.

Congrats on having a very pretty girl!

Oh! I just looked at your location! Be sure you protect that big comb during the winter, they are very vulnerable to frostbite. Keep her warm, and when she's out and about a liberal coating of Vaseline will help. But do keep an eye on it!

 

[Rhondax6]

I'll tell her you said she was pretty

Poor thing, all this time we thought she was a boy...

These are our first chickens and we are planning on putting a warming light in the coop for the winter. Is that a bad or good idea?