Is this a rooster?

[Wildheartsfarm]

This chicken is 5 months old. I thought this was a hen as it exhibited no dominant behaviors and never crowed. I had another rooster who led the flock (they are free range) and this one always acted like a hen. Ran for cover when the rooster cried, etc.

Then my rooster became aggressive and I had to cull it. The hens were VERY stressed - didn't even want to go outside. It took them a full week to recover and in the span of that week, this chicken started crowing. It's been another week and all the sudden this chicken is acting like a full on rooster!! Also it has grown dramatically all of a sudden.

I'm confused!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Yes, you have a beautiful boy. Congrats

 

[Bertram]

That's a boy. Sometimes the males lower down in the pecking order will act more submissive and hen like to not attract the attention of the flock leader, especially if they are young cockerels with an older cock.

 

[wrathsfarm]

That's a boy. Sometimes the males lower down in the pecking order will act more submissive and hen like to not attract the attention of the flock leader, especially if they are young cockerels with an older cock.

Agree..my little ones will do their first crows in the coop but the older teenagers learn quick not to crow or try to mate anywhere near my main roo.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

He is a handsome boy.

 

[SamLockwood]

If they're raised by an adult rooster young cockerels tend to be a lot more passive, and you've definitely got a boy there. A hen's comb won't usually redden until they're ready to lay at 5 to 6 months old. Plus, he's got the distinctive hackle and saddle-feathers, and his tail-feathers are already starting to curl.

 

[Wildheartsfarm]

If they're raised by an adult rooster young cockerels tend to be a lot more passive, and you've definitely got a boy there. A hen's comb won't usually redden until they're ready to lay at 5 to 6 months old. Plus, he's got the distinctive hackle and saddle-feathers, and his tail-feathers are already starting to curl.

Thank you!! Interestingly the rooster we had to cull was the same age - five months. But he was bigger and obviously the dominant one.

We are new to the chicken world, and atart s out with 3 chicks. 2 of them turned out to be boys so I guess we need to get some more!!