My buff orpington hen is crowing! Could she be a hen or a rooster?

[junebuggena]

Thanks to everyone for the help! I still hope that she's actually a she so I'm going to keep monitoring Ofelia. Also i forgot to mention that she used to be on baby chick feed that was suppose to help her grow faster so she can lay eggs faster. Dont know if that changes anything. I'll post some more pics in a week or two for more feedback.

Chick feed is what you are supposed to feed at that age. It will not make them lay early. It's a cockerel. An 11 week old pullet would not be red in the comb.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[rebrascora]

It only looks like a pullet because it isn't old enough to have developed it's male feathers yet. Whilst there are hens that crow (I've had one), they are hens and not young pullet chicks. Together with that red comb at 11 weeks, you would have to be an extreme optimist to believe this bird is a pullet.

I would be interested to know exactly what you are feeding them because I have to say, it does look a lot older than 11 weeks.... wondering if you are feeding them meat bird feed?
As back yard poultry keepers, the idea is usually to move away from intensive farming practises so that our birds have a longer, healthier and better quality of life..... particularly layers. I would therefore be wary of feeding something that promotes unnaturally rapid growth and development. It may work short term, but there are only so many eggs in the system, so pushing them to lay younger could cause them to burn out younger too.....just something you might want to consider.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[junebuggena]

I would therefore be wary of feeding something that promotes unnaturally rapid growth and development. It may work short term, but there are only so many eggs in the system, so pushing them to lay younger could cause them to burn out younger too.....just something you might want to consider.

Best wishes

Barbara

Most grower feeds are about 18 to 20 percent protein content. This is the necessary amount of protein that young birds need for proper growth and development. It will not cause a bird to 'burn' out, and it will not make them grow faster than is natural. It also will not cause them to start laying too early.

 

[rebrascora]

@junebuggena

I appreciate that, although here in the UK we seem to mostly have 18% chick crumb and 16% grower and 16% layer feed. I've not come across anything higher than 18% protein in my local feed store. However, the OP seemed to be suggesting that she is feeding them a specially formulated feed to encourage them to mature quicker..... something other than normal grower I assumed.... but maybe I misunderstood.

Do you not think that the chicken in question looks older than 11 weeks? Maybe it is just because my broody reared chicks are quite slow to mature compared to brooder chicks that can eat around the clock.... it does look like a POL pullet, size and shape wise, in my opinion and if it wasn't for it's age and the crowing and, as you mentioned, the slightly darker patches on the wings, I too would have said pullet.

 

[junebuggena]

Doesn't look too mature for 11 weeks at all.

These are 14 week old birds on the left, two pullets and a cockerel. And some 11 week olds on the right, the white one is a pullet, the others are cockerels. I do not heat lamp brood. The ones on the right were broody hen raised. The older birds were brooded with a heating pad. The 16% grower isn't adequate to fuel the feather development and growth of young birds. That is likely why your birds were much slower to grow.

 

[stegohcorn]

It only looks like a pullet because it isn't old enough to have developed it's male feathers yet. Whilst there are hens that crow (I've had one), they are hens and not young pullet chicks. Together with that red comb at 11 weeks, you would have to be an extreme optimist to believe this bird is a pullet.

I would be interested to know exactly what you are feeding them because I have to say, it does look a lot older than 11 weeks.... wondering if you are feeding them meat bird feed? 
As back yard poultry keepers, the idea is usually to move away from intensive farming practises so that our birds have a longer, healthier and better quality of life..... particularly layers. I would therefore be wary of feeding something that promotes unnaturally rapid growth and development. It may work short term, but there are only so many eggs in the system, so pushing them to lay younger could cause them to burn out younger too.....just something you might want to consider.

Best wishes

Barbara     

I do not exactly remember what I was feeding them. The food I purchased was from a farmer who raises chickens and had recommended me to feed them "special medicated feed that helps them grow faster."

 

[junebuggena]

In the U.S., medicated starter does not have anything in it that will make birds grow faster. It does contain a very low dosage of thiamine blocker, that will help prevent a severe case of coccidiosis.

 

[stegohcorn]

Here are more pics of Ofelia today. I need to get rid of her soon if she is actually a rooster.

 

[junebuggena]

Definitely a male. Saddle feathers are just starting to come in on the back.