Is this black australorp a rooster?

[hhong3138]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum. I am hoping someone can help me figure out my eight weeks old black australorp is a pullet or a rooster. I ordered only hens as we can't have roosters in NYC, but this bird looks like a rooster to me. I need to figure it out before the bird start to crow!!! Thanks for your help.

Vanessa

 

[theoldchick]

He's a cockerel. Sorry.

 

[theoldchick]

Where are my manners?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

&

I can't be sure, does it have the pointy hackle feathers? My BA cockerals were noticeable at 4 weeks old.

 

[Cowgirl71]

If that bird is under three months old... Then he's 100% rooster. That's a huge red comb for so young! Sorry.

 

[Opa]

While your bird might be a cockerel, I would suggest posting some better pictures that show the neck and tail areas better. A cockerel will have obviously pointed hackle feathers on its neck and pronounced development of saddle feathers in front of its tail. The comb and wattle development of the bird in the picture would be appropriate for a Australorp pullet of 8 weeks.

 

[Upcycled]

Don't worry about crowing just yet...Their first attempts are very muffled and kinda cute. You will notice them, but I ASSURE YOU, nobody outside a five foot area would ever hear them or identify them as a full fledged **crow**.

 

[TwoCrows]

I keep Black Australorps. And I am going to vote cockerel. All my girls are 4 1/2 months old and none of them have a comb and wattles anywhere near that big. Sorry.

 

[hhong3138]

Thanks for helping me. I posted another picture. sorry, I am not sure what pointy hackle feathers look like. This is the first time I try to raise chicken.

 

[featherz]

At that age, definitely a rooster. My australorps don't even have wattles that big and they are almost a year old.