Is She a He?

[bakersdozenroo]

Cockerel
How many pullets do you have in there?
Also if they aren’t aggressive, I’d wait and keep both until you decide which you’d rather keep.
They’re in the teenage stage now, so I’d let them grow and mature before deciding.

We have 8 pullets at the moment. So far no, they both are not aggressive. The older one is 22 weeks and Raven is 17 weeks.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

weve always had 2 roos until this year we are waiting to get our 2nd roo for this flock this february hes going to be a blue brahma

Good choice (and I’m definitely not biased)

 

[Beau plus penny]

Cockerel
How many pullets do you have in there?
Also if they aren’t aggressive, I’d wait and keep both until you decide which you’d rather keep.
They’re in the teenage stage now, so I’d let them grow and mature before deciding.

Good choice (and I’m definitely not biased)

definitely not

 

[bakersdozenroo]

Raven is definitely a cockerel, the male saddle feathers confirm it. Even if he didn't have saddle feathers, the size and color of his comb and wattles compared to the pullets the same age are another dead giveaway.

Whether you can keep 2 males or not depends on a lot of variables. How much space you have, how many females you have, and each individual cockerel's personality are the main deciding factors. The fact that Raven submits is helpful, but as he matures and hormones kick in that may change. If you have enough space for them to get away from each other and neither one of them has a personality that won't tolerate male competition you're likely to be ok. Also, if you have "enough" pullets that they don't feel the need to fight over females.

Yes we have 8 pullets. We have 2 coops because the pullets were in one coop and the cockerel was in the other. We have over half an acre in the backyard that they free range in all together. So far they all get along but I guess we will see what happens. Should I put both cockerels in the same coop now at night or no? I’ve been letting them all free range and the older cockerel just goes back to his own coop every night on his own?

 

[WingItRanch]

He is 17 weeks whereas the older cockerel is 22 weeks. We have 8 pullets.

8 pullets and 2 cockerels... yikes. The girls may get over-mated and the boys may fight. You just never know with animals. If they place you got him will accept him back, that may be a good option. If not, you can always wait and see how it works out.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

It appears to have saddle feathers (shiny long pointed feathers on lower back and neck area) as well as the 2 long feathers that almost look like a snake's tongue, generally only males have those.
So I'd say the black one is a cockerel.

 

[Beau plus penny]

Good choice (and I’m definitely not biased)

totally definitely NOT biased

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

And its likely not an Australorp, Australorps have jet black feathers, they wouldn't normally have the redish flecking around wattles and neck feathers. What hatchery did you get them from? He could be a black star if they have those, or a Maran but no feathered feet so likely not.

It appears to have saddle feathers (shiny long pointed feathers on lower back and neck area) as well as the 2 long feathers that almost look like a snake's tongue, generally only males have those.
So I'd say the black one is a cockerel.

 

[bakersdozenroo]

And its likely not an Australorp, Australorps have jet black feathers, they wouldn't normally have the redish flecking around wattles and neck feathers. What hatchery did you get them from? He could be a black star if they have those, or a Maran but no feathered feet so likely not.

Little Birdie hatchery here in N.C. I bought 2 what I thought were black Astralorps as that is what they were sold to me as. The other one just passed away a few days ago.

 

[AinaWGSD]

8 pullets might not be enough for 2 cockerels. A 1:10 ratio (give or take one or two females) is what's generally recommended.

Although if you have enough space and both boys are laid back enough they may still be okay. I have 4 cockerels (two different breeds, so we wanted to have a backup roo for each breed in case of predators or freak accidents) and 16 pullets out at the farm and enough room that I don't have any fighting.

I also have enough room to separate them if they do start fighting.

Your other concern would be that you only have 3 more weeks to return Raven according to the hatchery policy. So you have to decide if that's something important to you or not (ie, do you have a plan to rehome/butcher if he becomes aggressive or your males don't get along).