Is my sons favorite chicken a roo?!

[Chickenhappy8708]

Patience is not a virtue of mine.

I can relate.

As for the collar, My Pet Chicken claims to have made it so That way it is not painful, and humane. I don't know though.

 

[NatJ]

Patience is not a virtue of mine.

There are places where you can send a few feathers, and they'll DNA-sex the bird for you. Of course, you still have to wait for the results, and you have to pay for it. Probably a bit faster than waiting for the chicken to grow, but usually not really worth it.

When the hatchery offers a "free mystery chick," it is very likely to be a male. Not guaranteed, but quite likely. (Just so you know for the future.)

Whether the neighbors will hear the rooster: partly depends on where the chicken coop is placed. A nice screen of evergreen trees or bushes will do a lot to muffle the sound.

If you feel that you cannot keep a rooster, then I suggest you talk about it with your son now. "This chick might be a male, but I'm not sure yet. If it is a male, we are going to____."

What to do with a rooster? Rehome him or eat him. Some children get quite excited about seeing how a chicken turns into dinner, and some get really distressed by the idea. (Same goes for adults ) You will have to judge what works for you and for your son.

If you intend to buy more chickens in a year or two, you could put a Lakenvelder pullet on the "shopping list." Sometimes it helps to know you can get another one in the future.

 

[JadeFarms]

No-crow collars are cruel and can hurt the rooster, I've heard they limit air-flow. Plus, crowing is apart of a rooster's nature. Like others on here have said, if you live on four acres and have no enemys, just wait and see if anybody DOES complain. It could be nobody ever notices or cares. Or they figure if you have it then you're allowed to have it. And as far as rooster's crowing being obnoxious or annoying, somebody just drove by blaring loud obnoxious music, and that's allowed! Trucks and cars go by all the time, being just as loud as a rooster, and that's allowed! Even dogs barking is tolerated more. But a rooster just saying "I exist and these are my hens" is not allowed. So I really wouldn't feel bad. Try keeping him, you didn't move out to the country for nothing!

I agree

 

[sourland]

Have a 'Plan B' in mind just in case. I believe that Lakenvelder cockerels have early comb development which would mean that this bird should have a much larger comb if it is a cockerel. Have hope - and patience.

 

[Mama_3Boys]

My son and I just moved out to the country and were so excited to get started with chickens! We got this little one as a surprise chick. We’ve determined it’s a Lakenvelder, but I’m starting to worry it’s a roo. We aren’t allowed to have roos, and of course this is my sons favorite. It’s just shy of five weeks old. His/her comb is just a bit bigger than my ISA brown pullet, but it not the double the size or anything. Help!

I think you have a cockerel. This is my pullet at around 7 weeks. She is indeed a pullet as she is now 16 weeks and her brothers that are the same age have huge wattles and combs and hers stayed the same.

 

[Tall Holly]

I think you have a cockerel. This is my pullet at around 7 weeks. She is indeed a pullet as she is now 16 weeks and her brothers that are the same age have huge wattles and combs and hers stayed the same. View attachment 2300236

This is super helpful. The comb on mine is at least double that of yours. And yours is two weeks older here. I need to figure out how I’m going to pull a switcharoo.

 

[Sahraschweiss]

I'd wait. Here are pics of my rocks and buffs at 4 weeks. My buff cockerel was obvious by week 4. Some of my rocks had what I thought were suspicious combs, but they are all pullets.

 

[birdlover2]

This is super helpful. The comb on mine is at least double that of yours. And yours is two weeks older here. I need to figure out how I’m going to pull a switcharoo.

That isn't a good idea, unless you're joking in which case that's funny lol, but your son will be able to tell the difference. The old gold-fish died we must get another one to fool the kid probably only works in movies, and then again that's a FISH. The cockeral (if it is a cockeral) has it's own personality, part of it may be attributed TO it being a rooster. And he may notice appearance differences too. Plus, you don't even know yet if this is a rooster for sure yet, or if your neighbors will complain.

 

[NatJ]

That isn't a good idea, unless you're joking in which case that's funny lol, but your son will be able to tell the difference.

If it was my kid, I would not try to switch without the child knowing. But I have said/done things like, "this one's going to be a rooster, so we're going to eat him. What kind of chick to do you want me to order next spring to replace this one?" Or "let's go to the feed store to pick out a new chick."

The right tactics have a lot to do with the age of the child-- age 15 versus age 8 versus age 3 can make a big difference.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

If legs are an indicator on this breed here they are!

Look at them tree trunks!
I say boy.