I always thought this was a hen... Now I'm rethinking??

[gavzilla1]

This chicken is 13 weeks old - I'm just noticing her face and comb becoming more red than my other hens, but not as obvious as my other roosters. Is it a rooster or hen in your opinion? She is a backyard variety. She's not crowing or showing any aggressive behaviors. Any ideas?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think she is pretty. Looks like she has some Speckled Sussex in there. Yes I do think she is a girl.

 

[gavzilla1]

Thanks for the reply! Glad you think she's a girl...

 

[urbanchickspdx]

No saddle feathers, should feel good about a pullet

 

[Lady of McCamley]

At 13 weeks, saddle feathers won't necessarily be showing, so it could be a late developing rooster...there are a couple of things at this point that gives me pause...the one sickle type feather in the tail...that could be indication of a roo's tail about to grow, or simply a funky feather on a pullet....and the darker patches on the wing bows and a bit of patchiness in the coloring there...this may not indicate anything as barnyards don't necessarily follow the color rules and I've had barnyard mixes change substantially between juvenile molts with red patches coming and going and fine pullets emerging.

Comb is in-between for 13 weeks...it could indicate an early maturing female, or a late maturing male.

I'd still watch and wait on this one before calling it.

I'm leaning roo right now.

LofMc

 

[krista74]

I'm not 100% convinced either way!

She has some attributes of either sex at the moment, and I suspect may be one of those chickens where you have to wait for an egg or a crow before knowing for sure.

Like @Lady of McCamley , that tail feather is my main cause of concern. It's pretty fancy for a pullet!

I am leaning towards roo but would not be surprised with a call either way

- Krista

 

[BantamLover21]

I'm leaning toward cockerel.