Is my Polish a rooster??

[sherrylb1]

I got these Polish chickens at Rural King in July thinking they were both hens but as more time passes I am seriously wondering if the black & white laced one is a rooster instead. I asked the guy at Rural King at the time of purchasing if they were all hens and he said “they’re supposed to be but we can’t guarantee it”. The feathers on its head are very different from the yellow Polish but I’m not really seeing any defined wattles as far as I can tell. Haven’t heard any signs of it trying to crow either. They’re around 12-13 weeks old. Of course of the three in that coop it’s the one that doesn’t want to be picked up for any closer inspection. As far as being “allowed” to have roosters that’s not an issue in the rural area where I live but I do have a quite territorial adult rooster who probably won’t appreciate or allow another mature male in his flock. Can anyone give me more insight as to what you think the black one is?

These are the best pics I was able to get, and I’m including the yellow one who is the same age for comparison. (As well as the silkie who had to make sure she wasn’t left out ) Thanks in advance!

 

[JedJackson]

The black and white one is a silver laced Polish, and it is 100% male.

 

[WIchickMama]

The black and white one is a silver laced Polish, and it is 100% male.

100% agree--I am leaning towards the other one being a pullet

 

[JedJackson]

100% agree--I am leaning towards the other one being a pullet

Yep, the buff laced is a pullet.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Cockerel. There are streamers, hackle and saddle feathers on the silver laced. Buff laced is a pullet.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Can anyone give me more insight as to what you think the black one is?

Welcome to BYC!

Your silver laced boy is a cockerel... noted partly by his poor lacing but also by his gender specific pointy saddle feathers (and yes his rocker hair do).. starting around 12 weeks in most non hen feathered breeds..

The one you called "yellow" is actually known as buff laced and appears to be female. The sexing accuracy stated by most hatcheries is close to 90%. When purchasing directly from the hatchery they will refund you $ for any not sexed correctly but you do still have to deal with the bird itself. My smaller local feed stores will take back cockerels (which is a good reason NOT to shop there), but I know it's a service many locals appreciate. TSC (locally) is much more by the books and also don't offer any gender guarantees.

 

[sherrylb1]

Thank you all so much for confirming my suspicions, as well as the other helpful information you have provided. I house my younger chickens separately and don’t let them free range until they’re older due to hawk attacks so I will probably just build them a bigger run and continue to keep them separate from my other chickens so there won’t be any rooster fights.

 

[JedJackson]

Thank you all so much for confirming my suspicions, as well as the other helpful information you have provided. I house my younger chickens separately and don’t let them free range until they’re older due to hawk attacks so I will probably just build them a bigger run and continue to keep them separate from my other chickens so there won’t be any rooster fights.

Polish are not good free rangers because they cannot see much-- the crest obstructs their views. If you can, keep them in the run.

 

[sherrylb1]

Just thought I’d come on and update…he started crowing yesterday!