Is my Red a Roo?

[Debo's Chickens]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe this! I'm freaking out a little. OK, a lot! See, I already really like these chickens, and I can't have any roosters in my city. I was already worrying about having to return the Red & integrate a new one. But I guess I won't have to do that if they're all males. I'll just have to get all new chickens.

So, does anyone think any of them are females? This sucks.

ETA: so, maybe is that why they're always "fighting"? They don't really fight, they just puff up & act funny for a second, then go about their business. All 3 of them do it, but 2 at a time. All 3 don't fight at the same time.

Also, if you think the Black Australorp is a male, how can you tell?

 

[Wood's Farm]

I would say they are all males as well. The most obvious reason is the size of those legs!!! They are going to be good looking boys. I hate city ordinances, I can't have rooster either.

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

the shiny saddle feathers are a dead give away as well.

 

[BJ]

Just wait a bit...don't freak. The one with the long tail feather is a roo...but the others could be hens. At 6 months, the tail feathers look like hens. Where are the eggs? That is a big sign...and is there any crowing going on???

 

[Debo's Chickens]

I looked up pictures last night of Red Sex Link Roos & White Leghorns in general, and my white chicken definately looks like the RSL Roo. I guess they could be "mutt" chickens, but they're not supposed to be.

No eggs yet, and now that I think about it, the Black Australorp has the same shape hackle (or is it cape?) feathers as the Red - kinda pointed. When I started suspecting the Red might be a roo, I took comfort in the fact that they had the same hackle (or cape) feathers . . . until it grew the long tail feathers. Like I said earlier, the BA's tail feathers are just now growing back in, as they were all picked out when I first got them. So, it could still grow the long sickles I guess . . . .

And no "real" crowing yet, like the cock-a-doodle-doo stuff, but they all make strange noises, beyond the regular cluck-cluck-cluck stuff. They do longer, more drawn out sounds. I don't know how to describe it. I could try to get video, or other pics, if that would help clear it up.

 

[willowcol]

Sorry I think the are all males too, but don't feel bad. I bought 10 chciks from a breeder down the road, was suppose to be 9 hens 1 rooster. Well surprise they grew into 8 roosters and 2 hens. A stray dog got 1 girl so was down to 8 and 1. I now am down to 3 R, trying to figure out which I like best then 2 more are gone. The guy says he has no hens to give me now, I even offered 3 boys for 1 girl grrr. Wouldn't be mad except he swore he sexed them, now I am thinking he probably did and didn't want all them roo's. So live and learn. I use to buy eggs, feed, and chicks from him, now I am ordering fertile eggs on here and getting feed at the store. Maybe try to make a cooler bator order some nice eggs and try hatching your own is fun.

 

[Debo's Chickens]

I talked to the guy, and he will swap them all out no problem, for hens already laying if I want. He's going to have a lot of new ones later next week, and I want to wait a bit to try to make sure about the Black Australorp anyway, so that works out well.

I'll take more pics of the BA in the morning to get more opinions.

 

[BJ]

I'm glad things will work out for you. I've been there too...but it always works out. It is an ongoing learning experience, that's for sure!

 

[Chickndaddy]

They are all cockerels.

 

[Debo's Chickens]

So I exchanged all 3 of my roosters & got new chickens almost 2 weeks ago. These are 9 months old, supposedly already laying (but they haven't started for me yet). They're very timid. The RIR's comb is quite a bit larger than the others, so thought I better double check w/ you all.

RIR - hen or roo?