Is Mildred a rooster or a hen?

hannieg27

Hatching
7 Years
Oct 14, 2012
2
0
7
Hi, I bought my first 4 chickens at POL around 2 months ago and I am becoming increasingly concerned Mildred is a male, not a female as expected!

I bought 4 hens and only one is laying. These are pictures of Mildred but if my suspicions are right then my other light sussex, Chickpea, may also be a male as they look quite similar!

If anyone could help me determine whether she is a hen I would be very grateful!








 
Thanks for your replies! I am relieved now as I am not allowed to keep roosters in my garden!
Someone had seen Mildred mounting another hen, which combined with the lack of eggs and the shine on the feathers was making me paranoid!
 
sorry but thats a cockerel you can clearly see the saddles in this pic
900x900px-LL-309df356_2012-10-1413.51.36.jpeg
 
I wanted to say Mildred was a hen, but I am 100% sure it is a rooster. It is a tricky one, but I see both saddle and hackle feathers coming in. Compared to the one in the background, you can see the difference. That one has rounded saddle feathers. Also, Mildred's comb and waddles are much larger and the face has that cockerel look to it. The tail feathers first looked hen-ish, but when I took a second look, I saw some sickle feathers coming in. Generally, mounting is a predominantly male trait, so if someone saw him doing this, I would say that confirms male.

I find these types of birds to be tricky to sex because they are slower to mature and really have the same coloring as the females. I had a few columbian wyandottes that threw me for a loop when I bought them as well.
 
With the tally coming in from the previous posts, can you say "Milton" instead of "Mildred"? Just kidding, I'm not voting because I don't have enough knowledge. *runs to look up rooster saddle."
 
I wanted to say Mildred was a hen, but I am 100% sure it is a rooster. It is a tricky one, but I see both saddle and hackle feathers coming in. Compared to the one in the background, you can see the difference. That one has rounded saddle feathers. Also, Mildred's comb and waddles are much larger and the face has that cockerel look to it. The tail feathers first looked hen-ish, but when I took a second look, I saw some sickle feathers coming in. Generally, mounting is a predominantly male trait, so if someone saw him doing this, I would say that confirms male.

I find these types of birds to be tricky to sex because they are slower to mature and really have the same coloring as the females. I had a few columbian wyandottes that threw me for a loop when I bought them as well.



I completely agree. Sorry
 
Mildred is indeed Milton. You can see the long, thin, pointy saddle feathers clearly in your pics. Sorry. If that is your other light Sussex in the back on the third pic, she's a pullet.
 

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