is my 'Pullet' a 'Rooster?!

[jodiplunk]

Well I've posted before about help with regards to why my 32 week old (more like 35 weeks old now) Amber Star pullet might not be laying yet.... We've been trying a light in the coop on a timer for a couple of weeks as ALL the pullets are slow to start and quite late now, including our production red. However, yesterday I could have sworn I heard 2 smallish 'crows'. So, is there any chance that my Amber star pictured below could be a rooster and not a pullet? That cone is getting bigger and no eggs..... My reasoning for thinking that it isn't, is I would have expected 'her' to start crowing WEEKS ago if this was the case.... and she's not the only one who hasn't started to lay. NONE of them have, despite the light so I'm thinking that's not a good enough reason..... anyone able to confirm this for me?!

 

[enola]

When you get an egg from this one it will be the proverbial golden egg. That boy is ALL rooster!

 

[jodiplunk]

Thanks, Enola.... wouldn't it have started 'crowing' earlier than now though? If I did hear right yesterday mid afternoon it was only 2 soft ones, in the middle of the day and it's 35 ish weeks old now!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Absolutely, positively, male. See the long, skinny feathers hanging down over his back just in front of his tail? Those are saddle feathers, and only roosters get them--compare to your hens. Also, the feathers on his neck, the "hackles" are long and skinny, too. Compare those to the feathers on your hens, also. Finally, look at the coloration on the body. That "patchy" color, especially with the dark patches on the shoulders, is a male coloration. Hens will be a more uniform pattern all over the body.

The only thing this boy is missing is his rooster tail, and I can see that it's growing in now. It's not too weird that he hasn't crowed yet--he's a late bloomer.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Absolutely, positively, male. See the long, skinny feathers hanging down over his back just in front of his tail? Those are saddle feathers, and only roosters get them--compare to your hens. Also, the feathers on his neck, the "hackles" are long and skinny, too. Compare those to the feathers on your hens, also. Finally, look at the coloration on the body. That "patchy" color, especially with the dark patches on the shoulders, is a male coloration. Hens will be a more uniform pattern all over the body.

The only thing this boy is missing is his rooster tail, and I can see that it's growing in now. It's not too weird that he hasn't crowed yet--he's a late bloomer.

I agree. My roosters often don't start crowing until they are several months old.

 

[Studio2770]

Definitely a cockerel! He's a handsome fella. He seems to be a late bloomer and seeing how he looks well developed and you are unsure of his sex has me guessing he's a good boy.

 

[BantamLover21]

Late maturing rooster.

 

[donrae]

Rooster, all the way.

 

[jodiplunk]

Thanks @Wyandottes7 , @WalkingOnSunshine , @donrae , @enola , and @BantamLover21 the more I look at 'him' now the more obvious it is to me! I think I was just hoping that I was wrong.... I appreciate all the pointers. My daughter who named him 'Cinderella' is having a hard time accepting that he's actually Prince Charming now, but she is only 3yrs old!

I called the hatchery and they're going to let us swap him out for a Pullet as our city rules here don't allow Roosters and I would prefer an egg layer! It's got me worried about the rest of our small flock now though. I'm pretty sure a couple of them are ok but can I ask you to cast your expert eyes over the remaining 4?! The Production Red and Silke are both about 25 weeks old and the Black Sex Link and Ameraucana are about 30 weeks old. Thanks in advance!

 

[jodiplunk]

Yes, @Studio2770 he's a 'good boy' so far!