Is this a rooster or hen?

[Tamayeager]

How old are the hens?

They are all 5 months old. And the rooster is much bigger than this one. But, different breeds could be the reason behind that. But this one is the same size as the other two chicks that I got from rural king at the same time. I keep waiting for it to either crow, or begin to get bigger than the other two. But so far, neither has happened. I feel bad for it. It is definitely lowest in the pecking order. And doesn't seem to get a break. I am gonna move it. But need to figure out what it is to decide where to place it.lol

 

[Copper9Miko1]

Ty that's my thoughts also. It is not crowing. And it's the hens that attack it. I have never witnessed this behavior before. The rooster isn't attacking it. But the hens are. That is what has me confused. Have you seen this happen before? I have always had the two roosters fight. But hens be fine with the roosters. So, that's what has me confused.lol thank you!

when we introduced our first rooster he got picked on because of the pecking order and our hens weren't used to one, same with our two new ones from last springs chicklets. For the crowing ours's didn't for over a year or longer normally the crown and the gabble is how we tell and the feet spurs.

 

[Tookie]

They are all 5 months old. And the rooster is much bigger than this one. But, different breeds could be the reason behind that. But this one is the same size as the other two chicks that I got from rural king at the same time. I keep waiting for it to either crow, or begin to get bigger than the other two. But so far, neither has happened. I feel bad for it. It is definitely lowest in the pecking order. And doesn't seem to get a break. I am gonna move it. But need to figure out what it is to decide where to place it.lol

He's probably just submissive.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I think, if I'm not mistaken, that he has a male specific feather pattern. He is possibly on the bottom of the pecking order. Are they being extra mean? Have you tried penning him in a see but no touching situation until he gets bigger?

 

[Copper9Miko1]

They are all 5 months old. And the rooster is much bigger than this one. But, different breeds could be the reason behind that. But this one is the same size as the other two chicks that I got from rural king at the same time. I keep waiting for it to either crow, or begin to get bigger than the other two. But so far, neither has happened. I feel bad for it. It is definitely lowest in the pecking order. And doesn't seem to get a break. I am gonna move it. But need to figure out what it is to decide where to place it.lol

my rooster didn't start crowing for about a year, we knew he was a rooster from his crow, size, gabble, and feet spurs. The hens stopped bossing him when he got bigger and if we saw them pecking him we nudge them a bit

 

[Tamayeager]

I'll be right honest with you, this looks like a hen to me. I had a bantam hen once with the same beard/cheek fluff and the tail looks like a hen's. That being said, if this is a pullet-aged chicken I had a similar experience with my now 2yr old rooster Blanche- the one as my pfp actually haha. He had a brother (Megan) a confirmed rooster that was crowing and * ahem* mounting the hens at 5 months old while Blanche didn't at all, just acted like a gigantic hen and *looked* like a gigantic hen. Tail and all. I can't be for sure till they're older (in your case) sorry. But I worry that if you separate the chicken, rooster or not, that the pecking order will be a lot harsher after re-introduction, and don't know if it isn't best to let the pecking order develop. Later when it dies down and they all "have their place" in the order, the picking will be a lot less harsh.

The whole flock are 5 months. And the rooster is doing all those rooster things you mentioned.lol and is quite a bit bigger than this one. But different breeds. So, I can't really rely on the size for help in determining sex. But, this one is the same size as the other two chicks I got at the same time, from rural king.
I understand what you are saying about let the pecking order happen. But I have 50 hens at the moment. And only two roosters. And we'll, this one! Lol so if it is a rooster, I can easily set up its own flock. If it's a hen, I still may consider moving it. Cause she is not liked at all! Even as a hen, the pecking is a little excessive. I don't know what "she" did to make them mad, but they do not like her one bit. Poor thing. That is why I am so confused by it. She was supposedly sexed as a female from the hatchery. Her behavior, seems to be hen. But she looks like a rooster to me. But the flocks behaviors don't really say it's a rooster. I am just confused! Lol I want it to have a peaceful happy life, whatever it is. And have plenty of room for it, which ever the case may be. But I really need to know what it is to properly ace it in a new flock. And at the moment, I can't move it, cause I truly do not know if it's male or female. Much appreciate the feed back!

 

[Copper9Miko1]

The whole flock are 5 months. And the rooster is doing all those rooster things you mentioned.lol and is quite a bit bigger than this one. But different breeds. So, I can't really rely on the size for help in determining sex. But, this one is the same size as the other two chicks I got at the same time, from rural king.
I understand what you are saying about let the pecking order happen. But I have 50 hens at the moment. And only two roosters. And we'll, this one! Lol so if it is a rooster, I can easily set up its own flock. If it's a hen, I still may consider moving it. Cause she is not liked at all! Even as a hen, the pecking is a little excessive. I don't know what "she" did to make them mad, but they do not like her one bit. Poor thing. That is why I am so confused by it. She was supposedly sexed as a female from the hatchery. Her behavior, seems to be hen. But she looks like a rooster to me. But the flocks behaviors don't really say it's a rooster. I am just confused! Lol I want it to have a peaceful happy life, whatever it is. And have plenty of room for it, which ever the case may be. But I really need to know what it is to properly ace it in a new flock. And at the moment, I can't move it, cause I truly do not know if it's male or female. Much appreciate the feed back!

we've had many flocks normally smaller like 9-30 but normally they stop picking of new ones after while, we had a bad case when on had all her head feathers missing and they just stopped messing with her after. I feel like maybe separating them from the ones bothering it if possible might be a good choice, that or introducing food, spreading it in the run and then letting them eat in the same run can sometimes help, that's how we always introduce our new chicks to our old ones and they normally become friendly later that week.

 

[Tamayeager]

I think, if I'm not mistaken, that he has a male specific feather pattern. He is possibly on the bottom of the pecking order. Are they being extra mean? Have you tried penning him in a see but no touching situation until he gets bigger?

Oh! I do not really know about "male specific feather pattern". Although, when he first started to feather out, I thought it was so pretty it could be a rooster. Simply because roosters typically have prettier coloring. So that's very interesting and could well be an indicator. I am not sure what you mean by penning him up in a no touching situation. Do you mean simply put him close to the flock but not in the same yard as the rest? I have not tried that. But it could be an idea. I just really wouldn't know what to look for in way of behavior because I have not really ever done that. Other than when I am introducing new chickens to a flock. And yes, the pecking is excessive! There has never been blood drawn. So it's not a full blown attack. But it is constantly someone pecking it. Usually the lowest in the order, simply stays out of everyone's way. Well, they will go out of their way, to peck this poor thing. Even when it's off by itself. When they are free ranging, I have seen them run ten feet, and give it a good peck. I think what a BIG B! lol that's what has ne thinking I need to move it regardless. Even though there is no blood drawn right now, at any point, things could escalate. I don't want that. But, in order to properly place it, I really need to know what it is. I wish it would either crow, or lay an egg.lol give me a clear cut sign. Cause obviously it has tricked me! One more thing. It does not have spurs, or even the small bumps where the spurs begin to grow from. Another curious sign.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

It is a boy. this is not unusual- a lower totem pole bird will often not crow, or do so very little, to avoid upsetting the top bird. Most likely he will come into his own and the hens will stop bullying him when he does, but he may always be submissive to the other rooster.

 

[Cyan the chicken parent]

The whole flock are 5 months. And the rooster is doing all those rooster things you mentioned.lol and is quite a bit bigger than this one. But different breeds. So, I can't really rely on the size for help in determining sex. But, this one is the same size as the other two chicks I got at the same time, from rural king.
I understand what you are saying about let the pecking order happen. But I have 50 hens at the moment. And only two roosters. And we'll, this one! Lol so if it is a rooster, I can easily set up its own flock. If it's a hen, I still may consider moving it. Cause she is not liked at all! Even as a hen, the pecking is a little excessive. I don't know what "she" did to make them mad, but they do not like her one bit. Poor thing. That is why I am so confused by it. She was supposedly sexed as a female from the hatchery. Her behavior, seems to be hen. But she looks like a rooster to me. But the flocks behaviors don't really say it's a rooster. I am just confused! Lol I want it to have a peaceful happy life, whatever it is. And have plenty of room for it, which ever the case may be. But I really need to know what it is to properly ace it in a new flock. And at the moment, I can't move it, cause I truly do not know if it's male or female. Much appreciate the feed back!

Wow 50?? Those are a lot of feather butts! Sorry couldn't resist. I sure do hope those hens are a lil less mean to your chicka/chicko there