Is my Diana really a Dai (Welsh for David) - Black Orpingtons-

[Andit_543]

Hi
I have recently been given 3 black orpington chickens from a neighbour. She assured me they were all female and they were roughly 12 weeks when we got them, they are now 16 weeks.

However, Diana looks very different to her sisters and although she isn't attempting to crow, and isn't even top hen, I'm a bit worried that she could be a boy.

I'm looking to rehome some ex commercial hens next month and they recommend not to rehome them with a cockerel.

Also the other chicken pictured, Florence, is really lazy. I've read these are a lazy breed but she does seem to sleep a lot more that the others. She eats and drinks OK and will run away from me if she thinks I will pick her up. The others aren't bullying her so could she just be a lazy chicken.

Sorry for all the questions, I'm a first time chicken owner

 

[Andit_543]

Just an update for those that helped. Diana is well and truly a Dai, but what a beautiful boy he is. He's so sweet, the hens have him demented, bless him. The smallest new ex commercial girl, Patty, rules the roost to the point where Dai has even given up crowing at the moment. Hopefully when he matures a bit he will start again, miss his wake up call.
He is bloody massive though, absolutely love him. Very proud chicken mum!

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Yep, looks like a cockerel :'(

 

[featheredplanets]

He’s a cockerel. He shouldn’t be a problem with the ex bats. Orpingtons are generally just big, calm and friendly. They’re also typically slow maturers but each will crow and mate in their own time. You can keep siblings together but I’m not sure I’d sell eggs/chicks from them unless you research further into interbreeding and line breeding in chickens.

 

[The Happster]

It is indeed a young cockerel.
When you say behaving like a cockerel.
They can crow as early as a month old, but it's rare. Often it isn't too much older though. I'd expect it from him soon.
He could start showing interest in the girls any time. It just depends when he feels like it.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

He's indeed a he! Yours are bred more of a European standard and I have Black English Orpingtons myself. My three have been quite lazy also! They're putting on weight well and eating/drinking fine, they just like their breaks. I think it's a combination of the dense feathers and hefty build that makes them on the lazy side when compared to the typical Orpington here in the US. I personally wouldn't worry because she sounds like mine! They're beautiful by the way!

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

If I recall correctly Orpingtons are a slow growing breed, so I'd guess he'll be 7-8 months old and he may start acting the part? He could decide to hang out longer or start sooner :'(

 

[orloffer]

As long as he is not trying to mate with them, or otherwise aggravate them, I don't see why not.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Dai!

 

[Andit_543]

Thanks.
I live in rural Wales so keeping cockerels isn't a problem, pretty much all my neighbours have at least one.
I have no intention of breeding them but will do research if one of the girls gets broody and I change my mind.

Thanks for the help. I'm absolutely loving them, wish I'd got them sooner!!