My "hen" is crowing

[FirewifeJess]

Is it just the big bright red parts on his face that tell you it is a boy?

That chickens' saddle feathers are longer and pointy, and his comb and wattles are much more defined than I've ever seen on a pullet at 14 weeks old. Definite rooster. Posturing seems to be rooster as well; they stand more upright than girls and look lanky/gangly for longer; he's a pretty boy though, hope you can keep him!

 

[hdowden]

that's a cockerel all the way. the size of the comb and wattles, the redness of comb and wattles, the crowing, and the over all color says cockerel. the saddles should be coming in at this time (you may have to part the feathers at the base of the tail to see them though) and the hackles should also start to look slender, long, and pointed

 

[Sk8inChick(en)]

Looks like a rooster! A handsome one, too!

 

[downsm75]

His feathers tell it... Hens have more of a rounded end to their feathers near the rear, roos have pointy feathers. He should be crowing soon.

 

[jsin]

Thanks for all the input. At what age or size are roosters at their prime for eating?

 

[Dwkuska]

Yeah sorry about hte bad news... BBQ him whenever you no longer need him, or try to get a few fertile eggs out of him before you BBQ him

 

[PekinBantam]

Cock-a-doodle-rooo!

 

[StarLover21]

Definitally a roo. And you have an adorable little girl too

 

[donrae]

Thanks for all the input. At what age or size are roosters at their prime for eating?

Around 18-20 weeks is considered standard. After that they eat more than they grow.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you're gonna eat him, the meat is most tender before he gets all mature. At 15 weeks, they make nice little fryers. At 17 weeks, he's getting a bit too many hormones running through him and he'll be mighty tasty, just less tender. How big do you want to get and how much feed to you want to put through him, that's the question, I guess.