Hen, rooster, or too soon to tell?

[MarinR]

Not sure of her exact age... 8-9 weeks I'd say. She's been much more feisty with the other chicks for the last week and overnight turned up with all this red! Brand new at this and not ready for a rooster yet. Am I just paranoid?!?

 

[FireTigeris]

Why no rooster?

Nice pen you have.

What breed is it, I have three 236 pullets that look just like that.

Her/His legs are not the same as the other white chicken...

 

[hdowden]

hmmm looks more pullet than cockerel breed??

 

[MarinR]

It's an Orpington. Splash, I was told, though no color yet. Is that typical? I'm actually very open to the idea of keeping a rooster, but my husband is not. We have that wonderful pen to protect the hens. No need for a noisy, aggressive male in the mix.
It would be wonderful if she was a pullet. So far I love my Orps the best. Would hate to have to send one back.

 

[stephanie1992]

It's an Orpington. Splash, I was told, though no color yet. Is that typical? I'm actually very open to the idea of keeping a rooster, but my husband is not. We have that wonderful pen to protect the hens. No need for a noisy, aggressive male in the mix.

It would be wonderful if she was a pullet. So far I love my Orps the best. Would hate to have to send one back.

its not splash, igt would have color already, it just looks white

 

[FireTigeris]

Send one back?

 

[hdowden]

roosters help protect the hens and will give their lives for them and not all roosters are aggressive most are really sweet to their humans and hens...by the way pens nice but that chicken wire will NOT keep out dogs, foxes, raccoons, ect and sometimes even having a rooster these predators will still take a hen or two after dealing with the rooster. the only part of our pens that have nothing but chicken wire is inside the main pen to separate the breeds from one another, all on the outside including top has regular hurricane fencing around it with chicken wire to prevent the birds from sticking their heads through the fencing.

 

[MarinR]

Thanks I will continue to try to sell my husband on eventually having a rooster around. Pen is actually inside a larger area enclosed by hurricane fencing where they semi-free range. Chicken wire is really an attempt to deter birds of prey (we have tons of hawks, turkey vultures etc around here).

I got these chicks locally from a girl I found on craiglist. She said she'd take back any roosters if she gave me one by mistake.

 

[hdowden]

i used to free range but with the birds of pray and all the loose dogs that find ways to get into the yard they have been penned for most of the day sometimes i will let them out when im outside

 

[MarinR]

Two weeks later.... He/she is also developing small but sharp spurs already. This is my other Orpington, same age, as a comparison: What do you think? Cockerel??