I don't know if I have a rooster

[JULIE L CORWIN]

I have 17 new chickens . They are 14 and 15 weeks old. I have Rhode Island Reds and a Barred Rock mixed. Otherwise two breeds. Noticed on the RIR several of them. Have more of a plumage in thier tails. More blue in them then the others. Not a bunch just some blue. Are male RIR male adults more blue than the female?. I know roosters have spurs. None of mine do. How long
does it take a male rooster to grow them.? I would think by now that the growth would of started.I
have plenty of room for all of them. We built a 10 by 12 coop for them. The coop is the lap of luxerey for chickens. The only thing it doesn't have is a TV. LOL. I know we spent to much money for just chickens. But I plan on raising chickens till I die of old age. It's a nice enough room for a sewing room with out chickens. Which I seriously thought of before the chickens. But the chickens were all ready in the brooder. Just waiting to be put in the coop.

 

[junebuggena]

Spurs don't begin to develop until about 6 months of age. At 14 to 15 weeks of age, the cockerels should be clearly obvious with significant comb and wattle development and male specific saddle feathers. And they are well past being old enough to move out of the brooder and into the coop.

 

[Crs1]

I hatched end of June first week of July and 5 are roosters because they are all over my hens and I can see the starting of their spurs already. And yes they are bigger then the hens and have long tails

 

[sourland]

Can you post pictures of the questionable birds ?

 

[Crs1]

I will try

 

[Crs1]

Best I can do. Had to run after them in a ravine

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might wait until they roost and try to get photos then. The photos we need are of the head showing comb and wattles. A second photo showing a side view of legs, posture, tail, and saddle/hackle feathers could be tremendously helpful at that age.

The red one and white one are males. I can't tell about the others. I find spurs to be extremely not helpful. Every chicken has spur nubs, and some hens even develop large spurs. Cockerels mature at different rates and can vary widely on how their spurs develop. At that age there are other things that are a lot more helpful than spurs.

 

[junebuggena]

View attachment 1159340 View attachment 1159341 View attachment 1159342 View attachment 1159343 View attachment 1159344 View attachment 1159345 Best I can do. Had to run after them in a ravine

All the birds pictured have visible male specific saddle feathers. See how the feathers on the backs are thin, long, and pointed? Only males grow feathers like that.

 

[Crs1]

Taking pics at night can’t do so here is a pic of all5 and then individual of the three I haven’t sent

 

[Chickassan]

I think they're all boys.