Mr. Snuffles? What to do? Is she a roo?

[avalentine]

Hello all! We decided to keep a little flock at the K-8 school where I work, so this fall a peeping box with 6 supposed female chicks was delivered. They are now 11 weeks old and pretty darn sweet. We have 2 buff orpingtons, 2 silver laced wyandottes and 2 easter eggers. The kids have named them, and somehow intuitively named our whiteish easter egger Mr. Snuffles....

The city only gave us permission to have 6 hens, but this morning there was some crowing from the suspiciously roo-looking Mr. Snuffles... can anyone confirm that he is indeed a roo? I would actually love to have a roo as long as he is gentle with the kids and the ladies...so the follow-up question is can I test for gentleness? So far we haven't had any probs, although he is not the most loving of the flock...

Here are some pics- the probable roo is white with dark markings.

 

[Lothiriel]

Mr. Snuffles is most definitely a cockerel. As far as gentleness, I don't think there's a test you can do -- it really just depends on the bird. And time can change things, like it did with my last rooster. He was a huge baby, loved to sit on my lap, followed me around, and last December he turned mean and started attacking everything that walked. So I'd say time will tell.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I agree.. There is no doubt in my mind that that one is a cockerel.

He's beautiful.. I wish everyone could keep their nice roos

 

[akcountrygrrl]

The large, red comb combined with the pointy saddle and hackle feathers all point to roo.

 

[mother o' chicks72]

That is in fact a roo. I had one who looked EXACTLY like him, mine was the sweetest of all our chickens. Had to give him away.
he resemblance is uncanny

 

[Sjisty]

Pretty boy!

 

[sourland]

Mr Snuffles is a cockerel. Just monitor his behavior as he matures, and if he becomes human aggressive

. It's not worth taking chances with an aggressive rooster around children.

 

[avalentine]

Thank you all! I know we aren't supposed to have a rooster but I am hoping we can keep him... If he behaves well and the neighbors don't complain I am going to do my darndest to make a case for it... I am a little worried about catching human aggression early enough to ward off any kid incident, though, and I suspect the administration will be worried for the same reason...

 

[sourland]

Generally there will be indicators before he goes into full blown attack mode. Wing dancing, hackle flaring, pecking at the ground while 'eyeballing' you, frequent crowing and wing flapping while 'eyeballing' you are just some of these indicators.

 

[anderson8505]

First of all...

Secondly, yup Roo.

But, Mostly, I'M JEALOUS!! My principal wouldn't even consider letting me start "Chicken Club" (hee hee, get it chicken club??) this year, "allergies, diseases" etc. She hates me too, so that didn't help. We even have an agriculture teacher including goats, sheep, cows and horses. Middle School, btw.

Good luck with keeping him, you have a very nice flock.