Is Birdy a rooster or a hen?

[ZEbonyfox]

Hello everyone! I said I would never do it, but this year I took the plunge and decided to get chickens. And like chips, you can't just have one apparently...

So, I have two flock. One large breed with three wyandonnettes (that's what the woman who sold them to me said but I'm pretty sure they are Plymouth Rocks. One rooster and two hens. And one small flock with one d'anver rooster two d'anver hens and three d'uccle hens.

Long story short. I acquired a Rhode island red (we think) after my dad impulse bought some chicks and a coop and a couple of months later two dogs got on his property and killed the entire flock except Birdy.
We thought she was a hen and so I told him I would take her and integrate her into my flock.

Now Birdy is very very sweet and gentle. She is dead last in the pecking order. So she could settle down I first tried to integrate into the small flock. She liked those hens but my rooster was having none of it. My d'anver rooster is sort of a jerk though so I wasn't too surprised. He might be small but he is mighty! and he attacks my ducks too.

When I tried my large flock the hens went after her. So I split the flock and introduced her to one hen. After they became friends I added in the final hen. Now with the girls getting along I thought it would be easy to reintroduce my rooster. I finally let them all out today and it went terribly! All my rooster was interested in was attacking her. Birdy was so terrified she flew into my arms! Now the rooster is penned again and the girls are outside and everything is peaceful again.

So TL;DR. I'm wondering if it's possible the reason my rooster doesn't like Birdy that she is actually a rooster?? Everyone is under a year. The BR rooster isn't mating yet but he is starting to crow. The hens just began laying a week or so ago. The were Easter chicks and Birdy was bought around March. She doesn't look or act like a rooster (no crowing, no agression, no interest in the hens) but I need to make she isn't.

At this point my rooster has got to go. He's beautiful and not that bad honestly, ( i inserted a picture of him as well) but Birdy is the house favorite. If Birdy is a rooster then I can work on getting more hens but if she is a hen I need to find a Rooster who will accept her not chase her off.

Can someone help me out? Please and thank you!!

 

[Table4Six]

Birdy is a beautiful pullet. Your rooster is actually a Dominique. Gorgeous birds!

 

[ZEbonyfox]

Birdy is a beautiful pullet. Your rooster is actually a Dominique. Gorgeous birds!

Thank you!
Someone else has mentioned they could be Dominique! The pattern difference between them and a Plymouth is a bit confusing so I figured they were most likely the more commercial breed.

Glad to hear Birdy really is a girl! I wish I knew why my rooster doesn't like her. He's such a pretty boy and great to the other ladies...

 

[Table4Six]

He may just need more time to except her. Was she introduced to the flock later then everyone else? The feathering between Dominiques and Plymouth Barred Rocks can be very similar and confusing, but just look at the comb:
Dominiques: rose combs
Barred Rocks: single combs

 

[Cheyenne97]

Birdy is definitely a pullet. I’m actually having a hard time introducing two hens to my current flock. My EE pullet is a complete brat and has trained the other girls besides my Buff to be mean. *eye roll*. Wish you the best of luck!

 

[ZEbonyfox]

He may just need more time to except her. Was she introduced to the flock later then everyone else? The feathering between Dominiques and Plymouth Barred Rocks can be very similar and confusing, but just look at the comb:
Dominiques: rose combs
Barred Rocks: single combs

The Dominiques all came together. I've had Birdy for about one month now. When I first introduced them i kept Birdy in her pen and let everyone meet through the pen. When I put one hen in with her I let them out on opposing days for a week. Since all of the girls are getting along the rooster has been penned while the girls have been out for about two weeks now.
The past few days Birdy has been hanging out beside him and last night she tried to roost on his coop so I thought that was the positive sign to open the doors and let them out T-T i was dead wrong. He came out like a bull and just started attacking her! I don't know what else to try.

 

[ZEbonyfox]

Birdy is definitely a pullet. I’m actually having a hard time introducing two hens to my current flock. My EE pullet is a complete brat and has trained the other girls besides my Buff to be mean. *eye roll*. Wish you the best of luck!

Good Luck! My top hen is a brat. Actually the first day my rooster was fine with Birdy until SHE decided no one should like her. Now that she has begrudgingly accepted Birdy i thought it would be pie to get the rooster on board. Apparently he missed the memo. >.<

 

[Table4Six]

It sounds like your rooster is trying to show his dominance, as well as show Birdy that she is his hen now. Since all the Dominiques came together, they sort of see her as an out sider. If it were me, I would put the girls to bed and when it's starting to get darker, take your rooster out of his pen and try putting him in with the girls when the visibility is lower. They might wake up a new flock, but I would go out before it's really light outside just in case.

 

[Sneebsey]

I don't think you'll need to get rid of your boy. As others have said, she is new and will take some time to integrate into the flock, particularly as they have been together so long without any new members. It is always difficult to integrate a single hen into an established flock, and the fact that these three have never had to let anyone join their family before will only exacerbate this.

Just keep trying and they will get used to her. Maybe get a couple more hens or pullets to join her if you feel she is being picked on excessively. Ideally, you want at least 8 hens per cockerel.

 

[Hensndoes]

If I'm reading this right, the new pullet is integrated and doing well with the existing pullet flock and it's the cockerel who is being a bit over the top? If that's the case- and he is the same age (under a year and therefor not a rooster yet), then he hasn't learned to be a gentleman yet. His hormones are raging and he needs to cool his jets. Many people keep cockerels separate until a year for this reason. He also could still see her as a threat to their resources and being a jerk for that.

I haven't had to separate cockerels completely yet as I keep pretty mellow breeds (marans) but if one wants to be a jerk, well there are plenty of nice Roos out there. Cochins and faverolles have a rep for being very good boys also.