Punkyrooster16
Chirping
- May 27, 2021
- 35
- 47
- 51
Sooo about a month ago I was picking up chicks and wanted to grab a cockerel so I’d have one that matured a bit earlier and offer a bit of protection. Seller had a pen of all the cockerels she wasn’t planning to keep and told me to take my pick. It was dark, this guy caught my eye because he reminded me of my barred chocolate orpingtons (did I mention it was dark? 
). When I picked him up I asked if she was sure he was a cockerel but she seemed quite sure and was happy to let him go and off I went.
The next day I noticed his back was completely stripped of feathers like a hen that had been ridden far too much (and it seemed to be affecting his stance and the appearance of his tail). Still, he quickly took charge of one of the sub-flocks about a month younger, and though I still had doubts, I figured I’m not the greatest judge of sex based on looks anyway.
He’s now approaching 4 months with no comb/wattles to really speak of, no typical cockerel behaviours (all the younger cockerels in his flock are chest-bumping while he could care less). It’s pretty clear that he is not interested in maintaining his place at the top of the pecking order of their group. Now that his feathers have grown back in, his tail isn’t particularly showy, and his saddle feathers aren’t overly pronounced but could go either way.
I’m really starting to think he’s actually a pullet. Am I completely off base? It would be awesome if he was as we have 3 other (obvious/confirmed) cockerels in that group, so it would be great if we only needed to get rid of two.
I’ve attached a few pics, he doesn’t love getting his photo taken but I’ve tried to include a few that show his shape and then his face/wattles, saddle feathers, tail. Would love to hear what you all think! (bonus points if you can tell what breed he is - if it matters, his stripes are more on the brown side).
). When I picked him up I asked if she was sure he was a cockerel but she seemed quite sure and was happy to let him go and off I went.The next day I noticed his back was completely stripped of feathers like a hen that had been ridden far too much (and it seemed to be affecting his stance and the appearance of his tail). Still, he quickly took charge of one of the sub-flocks about a month younger, and though I still had doubts, I figured I’m not the greatest judge of sex based on looks anyway.
He’s now approaching 4 months with no comb/wattles to really speak of, no typical cockerel behaviours (all the younger cockerels in his flock are chest-bumping while he could care less). It’s pretty clear that he is not interested in maintaining his place at the top of the pecking order of their group. Now that his feathers have grown back in, his tail isn’t particularly showy, and his saddle feathers aren’t overly pronounced but could go either way.
I’m really starting to think he’s actually a pullet. Am I completely off base? It would be awesome if he was as we have 3 other (obvious/confirmed) cockerels in that group, so it would be great if we only needed to get rid of two.
I’ve attached a few pics, he doesn’t love getting his photo taken but I’ve tried to include a few that show his shape and then his face/wattles, saddle feathers, tail. Would love to hear what you all think! (bonus points if you can tell what breed he is - if it matters, his stripes are more on the brown side).
