My "girls" may not be at all!

[imjustdelaney]

I've been trying to upload pictures for a couple of weeks, and I finally got it. I have 9 Australorps that were all supposed to be females. I've been questioning for a while if we got the higher-than-average-error of males. I noticed some behavior today that made me think I have two cockerels (and, incidentally, they are my two with larger combs and wattles, and my two biggest chickens). When I let them out today, one of them went running across the yard, flapping wings and making a strange "I'm trying to test out my voice" honk. Not a crow, but not the regular hen cluck. Then both of my maybe-boys pecked at the ones with less prominent combs and wattles. I couldn't tell if they were preening (like monkeys do with each other) or trying to actually peck at eyes and necks. When I went out again to check on behaviors, the two seem to "bully" the others. One of them also either tried to claw/kick/mount one of the hens, so I'm not sure if it's dominance in the pecking order or an attempt to mate?? Either way, here are pictures (it's a typical windy day where I live, so feathers might look a little unkempt...but they are usually beautiful and smooth!).

As a side note, do I need to separate the roosters (if they are) from the hens to keep my hens safe? We thought about having one rooster to protect the girls, but if they are both bullies, we will need to cull them, I would imagine.

 

[JedJackson]

There are at least two cockerels in that group. Both have larger, redder combs and wattles, and shiny, pointed feathers on their backs.

It's a little difficult to tell who is who in group photos, but I will go picture by picture.

Photo 1 shows a cockerel

Photo 2, there are three birds up front. The one in the middle is a cockerel.

Photo 3, the bird on the left, separated from the others, is a cockerel. And the bird closest to him is also a cockerel.

Photo 4, second from the front is a cockerel. Fourth from the front, on the beam, is also a cockerel.

Photo 5, bird up front is a cockerel.

Photo 6, bird up front, to the right, is a cockerel.


You will have to decide for yourself if you want to keep a male, but if you do, I advise keeping only one of them. Two is too many for the number of females you have. You can expect them to be a bit wild and to go after the females for mating purposes. Eventually they will settle down. If they show any aggression towards humans, that is when to draw the line, but most cockerels/roosters won't behave that way. Good luck!

 

[Little Baby Bean]

There are at least two cockerels in that group. Both have larger, redder combs and wattles, and shiny, pointed feathers on their backs.

It's a little difficult to tell who is who in group photos, but I will go picture by picture.

Photo 1 shows a cockerel

Photo 2, there are three birds up front. The one in the middle is a cockerel.

Photo 3, the bird on the left, separated from the others, is a cockerel. And the bird closest to him is also a cockerel.

Photo 4, second from the front is a cockerel. Fourth from the front, on the beam, is also a cockerel.

Photo 5, bird up front is a cockerel.

Photo 6, bird up front, to the right, is a cockerel.

I agree!

 

[mamablair]

Unfortunately dear it does look you have 2 cockerels.

 

[imjustdelaney]

Sorry about the groupie pictures. They usually huddle, so separating them out is always a challenge. But thank you for confirming my suspicions.

 

[HappyClucker7]

Pic #1 cockerel.

 

[imjustdelaney]

Pic #1 cockerel.

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Well, I suppose THREE just means I have more room for some Buff Orpington chicks to be added. This time I plan to go through a hatchery that guarantees (90%) pullets.

 

[imjustdelaney]

Going under the assumption that I had at least two males (maybe three) I ordered some female Buff Orpingtons for delivery in a couple weeks. Then my neighbor offers me one her laying hens (1-2 eggs a day currently), an Australorp like mine, who bullies her other hens. Well, now I'm REALLY confused whether I have roosters or hens, because look at my newest addition! She's more manly than my maybe-boys. Look at that comb and wattle! I can't figure this out!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Going under the assumption that I had at least two males (maybe three) I ordered some female Buff Orpingtons for delivery in a couple weeks. Then my neighbor offers me one her laying hens (1-2 eggs a day currently), an Australorp like mine, who bullies her other hens. Well, now I'm REALLY confused whether I have roosters or hens, because look at my newest addition! She's more manly than my maybe-boys. Look at that comb and wattle! I can't figure this out!

She's a hen. The comb and wattles aren't necessarily the indicator, it's the age in which they get them Your other girls will eventually look like her. Your boys also have pointed saddle feathers

 

[imjustdelaney]

She's a hen. The comb and wattles aren't necessarily the indicator, it's the age in which they get them Your other girls will eventually look like her. Your boys also have pointed saddle feathers

That is SUPER! Thank you. All of mine were hatched at the same time, so the WHEN I've gotta catch onto. I'll get it someday! I think my new one is only a couple months older.