Is this a roo?

[Belinda7]

I think that's a Cornish hen as I have 2( 9) week old ones - picture below - these are "meat" chickens rather than egg layers. When they are babies they get combs on top of their head and I also noticed the combs on all my baby chicks (first time chicken keeper) and almost cried, because I thought I had ALL roosters.

Someone was kind enough to tell me that all chickens get combs - the way to identify young roosters is that their tail feathers are pointy, and hens have more rounded tail feathers....but for the novice, that's kind of hard determine in a baby chick.

But as they grow up you can see the difference. The photo attached are my (2) 9 week old Cornish hens. I am fairly certain the one on the left is a rooster, and the one on the right is a hen. What are you going to do anyway at this point....just wait a few more weeks and you will know for sure! Patience is the key!

 

[snakelife]

Mines not a Cornish. Do they even lay eggs? I know that you have to actually insert sperm into the hens as they are to fat to breed naturally. She has rounded tail feathers and rounded neck feathers. No crowing yet...

 

[gmomfarms]

When we harvested two Cornish Rock X at 11 weeks, the pullet had a fully formed egg. If we had waited another day, she would have laid.

 

[LAChickens]

Cornish Cross do lay eggs, not as prolifically as other breeds, but every other day or so. Mine are decent Mothers as well.

 

[snakelife]

Wow that's cool. Never knew that. Whe should mine start laying?

 

[Belinda7]

I did know that Cornish Hens lay eggs, but had learned that they are not as prolific as other breeds, so from my understanding, they are raised more for their meat capability rather than egg production. Is that correct?

 

[snakelife]

Yea they grow fast and are very large. Fat and very yummy. my friends used to raise them but killed them before laying age.

 

[sherburne'sFabulousEggare]

...

Hi - is this 8 week old Easter Egger a pullet or a roo?]

New response --------------

I think one of my 8 week old babies is a roo also! It is a silver Amercana, that is larger than other three chicks (different breeds- maran, blue adulsian, and black langshan). Has a red pea comb, muff, and does a "crowing" sound complete with stretching neck out to make the noise.

I have 10 hens, ages 1-3 yrs, and not one makes this noise! Live in city, with a no roosters policy (our hens are our pets,too). Read that sometimes pullets will crow too?

Ideas?

 

[snakelife]

Pulleys crow. But it turns into a crowing hen. They are nosiy. Mine has not made a noise yet.

 

[Belinda7]

Do you know at what age is best to slaughter a Cornish Hen? I thought since they are on starter for 15 weeks, that before they switched to Layer feed would be the time to do it? Is that right? Or is the meat tougher if you wait that long? They are both pitifully fat! But do seem to get around okay in short bursts and manage to keep up with the flock.