I know they can tell them apart but my rooster knew before he ever seen the girls. I had two buff roosters in a pen together and I bought three 3 from a breeder. Before I ever got the girls out of the carrying cage one of the Roos was trying to get out and get to em. Did ge know try were hens or was he just trying to check em out. I thought it was weird how fast he reacted to them and never saw em. Do hens have a smell like does do to bucks?
I can't tell you what it is, but they KNOW! This summer, as the chicks reached that age where we all begin to wonder if we have any little roos in the bunch, one of the chicks I was almost certain was going to turn out to be a roo, got loose. My adult roo Stan was lurking nearby, and in a flash, he was on top of the little suspect. The little "rape victim" turned out to be a pullet, all girl, and she's squatting now so eggs are certain to appear any day! I decided to try this little experiment once more on another chick I was having doubts about. Letting the little cochin wander over into Stan's vicinity, Stan, with his complete and total indifference, confirmed that I had a cockerel. And that little cochin has grown into a rather magnificent junior roo!
