Is this a rooster or hen?

[Tamayeager]

You know, I too have had chickens for years. A year and a half ago, I hatched out a single chick, but it lived, and I was pretty positive it was a pullet...until it wasn't, he was nearly 4 months old, and I am thinking to myself, 'when are you going to start laying?' took a good look and realized he wasn't going to. He also never crowed.

And my hens and pullets did not like him. He was always by himself, they were always at opposite sides of the coop. One day I just culled him. I took their word for it.

Later I had another two chicks hatch, one pullet and one cockerel, grown up in the same coop and with the same girls. They adored him.

Sometimes you need to listen to your flock.

Mrs K

What an interesting story. Yeah, there can be deformities in chickens as well. I don't want to give up on it just yet. If I only had this one flock, and if it turned bloody, then I would begin to think along those lines. But as of now, I have plenty of options for this bird. Just need to know which one best suits it. If it turns out that it never fully develops into a true rooster, or laying hen, then yes, I will cull it. But as of now, if it is a hen, it is an olive egger. Which I want. If a rooster, then that's some genetics I would gladly welcome! So, time will tell. But I won't let this one flock decide its fate. They may be holding a grudge for some reason.lol or, could be a rooster, and that's a good reason to reject it!

 

[Tamayeager]

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.

Wow! Okay. I have not experienced that before. I have had two roos several times in my life time. And they always both crowed. So, you have experienced that? It makes sense that the submissive one would not crow. I just have not had that ever happen before. Thank you

 

[Tamayeager]

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

Yes! 50!!! And I am having the time of my life! Lol my great grandpa had a poultry farm. He was "retired" by the time I came along. Which meant he "he only had about 100" chickens at any given time. Lol he passed when I was 9 years d. And I so loved going to his house. And our family has always had chickens. The most I have ever had was 12 at once. But always knew that "some day" I would have more. Well, some day has arrived!!!! Only made better by the fact that I have an autistic grandson who loves chickens and ducks! So I could not be happier! Well, maybe a little happier if I could figure out this one chicken! I don't know if I have ever been so confused by a bird.lol

 

[Sussex19]

I agree, it does look like a cockerel.

 

[Tamayeager]

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.

Wow! A year old before crowing? I wonder if that is because of the breed or something? Ever rooster I have ever had, has crowed by five months. Or at least attempting to. It is so funny when they are first learning how to crow. Some get it right away. Others, not so much.lol but not a peep out of this one. But you know, it is a very quiet bird. I had not thought about that till just this minute. So wonder if that's aging a part in this. But it doesn't have spurs. And not even the spur bud! It is so strange! When I look at it, I think "rooster"! But when I look closer, I am not so certain! But I have never bought any chicks from a hatchery or store before. I have always had mixed breed chickens. I know olive Eggers are a hybrid. But wonder if they are slow to develop. When it's comb began to turn red, I really got confused! I just don't know what to do with it.

 

[LaFleche]

This Easter Egger (mutt) is 100% male, the typical pointy saddle feathers give him away.

 

[Tamayeager]

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.

Well, these were all baby chicks, like a few days old, when they were placed together. They have all grown up together. It's not new to the flock. And this flock is just one rooster and seven hens. I don't have all my chickens together. I have another flock. The OG flock. Lol and then, I have the rest split into two groups, with no roosters with them. And about 12 chicks in the broader, along with two turkeys. First turkeys I have ever owned! Lol I switch back and forth between the two flocks with roosters on letting them free range. The days they don't free range, I do scatter their feed on the ground, while also having a feeder. I scatter the feed so they learned how to free range. They all got along fabulous until about a month ago. I don't know what happened. But it was like one day, the whole flock, except for the rooster, was mad at this one bird. Ever since, they have not let up. Not sure what happened. But they are not letting it go! They can hold a gadget like no other! Lol

 

[Tamayeager]

This Easter Egger (mutt) is 100% male, the typical pointy saddle feathers give him away.

View attachment 3287041

THANK YOU! And the neck feathers are pointed. And long. But what about it's size, no spurs, no crowing, and not even the bit of confrontation from the rooster. Just the hens. I am, and have been for a while, leaning towards rooster. Except for the things I just listed. Have you ever known of roosters to also have these traits?

 

[KentuckyRooster]

Wow! Okay. I have not experienced that before. I have had two roos several times in my life time. And they always both crowed. So, you have experienced that? It makes sense that the submissive one would not crow. I just have not had that ever happen before. Thank you

Yes. I actually have a submissive roo right now who won't crow. The one in my picture. He is a gamebird and he was on a farm with LOTS of other ones- ranging around with his brothers. Because the other roosters there (in pens/on cords) were much stronger and older than he, he never started to crow and also has not yet learned to flare or spar. He runs and makes sad noises instead if one of the other roosters comes to push at him.


He still does not. He's been here several weeks now and he is subservient to my serama roosters. He has not tried to crow once, even though he SHOULD be crowing by now.
I have seen it in every breed of bird I've ever owned. If there's a top rooster, the younger, weaker ones will delay their own crowing in order to avoid disrupting the flock.
In roosters their crow is several things. It is a call that claims hens, claims turf, and essentially says "I'm here, and this is mine!". That's why your guy isn't doing it yet.

 

[Tamayeager]

Yes. I actually have a submissive roo right now who won't crow. The one in my picture. He is a gamebird and he was on a farm with LOTS of other ones- ranging around with his brothers. Because the other roosters there (in pens/on cords) were much stronger and older than he, he never started to crow and also has not yet learned to flare or spar. He runs and makes sad noises instead if one of the other roosters comes to push at him.


He still does not. He's been here several weeks now and he is subservient to my serama roosters. He has not tried to crow once, even though he SHOULD be crowing by now.
I have seen it in every breed of bird I've ever owned. If there's a top rooster, the younger, weaker ones will delay their own crowing in order to avoid disrupting the flock.
In roosters their crow is several things. It is a call that claims hens, claims turf, and essentially says "I'm here, and this is mine!". That's why your guy isn't doing it yet.

Interesting! I have not experienced that. Well, I have several birds that are simular to him. Enough to build another flock. He may have just been promoted! Hope he is up to the task! Lol he is awfully small though. So doubt I will ever let him be a dad. Lol but he can have fun trying!