Hens or Roos?

[Sirina]

Ok who wants to help me buy playing pullet or roo? Neither have started to crow although it is a bit early maybe. I have a black asturlop about about 15weeks old. And a Easter egger about 12 weeks old. I keep going back and fourth. The black had super early waddle and comb development. Red very early but I don’t see pointed feathers at all. The Easter eggers individual feather pattern looks pointy because of the style with the brown/black line on each feather but they are edged with white and the white seems pretty rounded. Her mom is the same. But dang dads is too. He grew pointy saddle but not sure when.

 

[NatJ]

Neither have started to crow although it is a bit early maybe. I have a black australorp about about 15weeks old. And a Easter egger about 12 weeks old.

They might both be pullets. I would keep them a while longer and see.

Some cockerels start crowing well before 8 weeks, so no crowing yet inclines me toward pullets. (Yes, some start crowing late, but I think early is pretty common.)

Pullets do eventually get red combs too, and the Australorp is old enough that it might be a pullet preparing to start laying soon.

From what you say of the feather shapes, that sounds like pullets too (yes, of course it could be cockerels that just haven't grown mature plumage yet.)

So I'm not at all positive, but I think pullets are more likely.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

Most birds will start getting their pointy saddle feathers around 12 weeks. Both your birds appear to be pullets.. from what I can make out in the photos...

They don't earn the title Roo until after a year old though just as fyi... two completely different creatures.. roosters and cockerels.

Age and crowing are some possible clues... I had boys attempting to crow as early as 3 weeks and others as late as 18 months. None of my ladies have crowed that early.. but YES, hens do crow and even grow spurs... it's just not SUPER common.

 

[Sirina]

Thanks all! I’ve gone back and fourth on these two for weeks!