Hi everyone! I am new to backyard chickens and so far, the hardest part has been trying to determine if I have any roosters! Right now, I am especially confused by my 2 buff orpingtons. Since the day I got them as little chicks, one has always been a little bigger than the other. Watching them develop and grow over the past few months has also highlighted the physical differences between the two. For reference, the larger one is Kentucky and the smaller one is Hei Hei.
I am pretty sure that Kentucky is a rooster- as he is still bigger, and because he has developed some rooster traits- such as his tail feathers, including what I believe are saddle feathers, the way he sticks his neck out, the way the feathers are around his neck, I think they are called hackle feathers (he likes to "puff" those out too), his weird strut (where he dropped his wings down low to the ground and did the weirdest walk I've ever seen) and of course- the fact that he crows. However, one thing about him that is odd, is that his comb and wattles are small and pale pink; unlike his assumed female counterpart, who has developed a very large, bright red comb and wattles.
So, here I was thinking for sure I knew what they were, but now- my "hen", has started to crow. LOUDLY- and all day. I've heard of hens showing male like traits- crowing and what not, but now she has become incredibly aggressive- towards me! For instance, yesterday I looked outside and saw them all (I have 4 total) sitting on top of the roof of their coop, so I went out there to get them done. I kid you not when I say the moment I stepped outside- that "hen" flew off the top of the coop into the yard and ran straight at me- and started "attacking" my feet and ankles, and even grabbed the bottom of my dress and was pulling on it! Then, when I leaned down like I was going to pick her up- she pecked my wrist with such force that she left a mark! Also of note- Kentucky, my assumed rooster, is not aggressive towards me or the kids.
I started doing more reading and discovered that there is such thing as spontaneous sex reversal, but everything I read seemed to suggest that this happens after they start laying eggs. For the record- mine have not yet started laying, as they are about 3 months old now.
I've attached some pics for yall to see, and to give me your opinions.
In the first pic (of 3 chickens on my deck), the hen in question is the yellow one. Notice her large comb and wattles? In the 2nd pic, you can see both of them (the 2 yellow ones). My assumed rooster is in the back of the pic. Notice his way smaller comb and wattles? Ad what I think are saddle feathers? The 3rd pic you can see the 2 of them side by side- really just to see the much smaller comb.
Finally, the 4th picture is just the 2 in question. They were standing at my back door looking into the house. The hen in question, Hei Hei, is on the left, while Kentucky is on the right. Notice how he has his neck stuck out? He is always doing that. You can also see the difference between the combs and wattles.
What do ya'll think?
I am pretty sure that Kentucky is a rooster- as he is still bigger, and because he has developed some rooster traits- such as his tail feathers, including what I believe are saddle feathers, the way he sticks his neck out, the way the feathers are around his neck, I think they are called hackle feathers (he likes to "puff" those out too), his weird strut (where he dropped his wings down low to the ground and did the weirdest walk I've ever seen) and of course- the fact that he crows. However, one thing about him that is odd, is that his comb and wattles are small and pale pink; unlike his assumed female counterpart, who has developed a very large, bright red comb and wattles.
So, here I was thinking for sure I knew what they were, but now- my "hen", has started to crow. LOUDLY- and all day. I've heard of hens showing male like traits- crowing and what not, but now she has become incredibly aggressive- towards me! For instance, yesterday I looked outside and saw them all (I have 4 total) sitting on top of the roof of their coop, so I went out there to get them done. I kid you not when I say the moment I stepped outside- that "hen" flew off the top of the coop into the yard and ran straight at me- and started "attacking" my feet and ankles, and even grabbed the bottom of my dress and was pulling on it! Then, when I leaned down like I was going to pick her up- she pecked my wrist with such force that she left a mark! Also of note- Kentucky, my assumed rooster, is not aggressive towards me or the kids.
I started doing more reading and discovered that there is such thing as spontaneous sex reversal, but everything I read seemed to suggest that this happens after they start laying eggs. For the record- mine have not yet started laying, as they are about 3 months old now.
I've attached some pics for yall to see, and to give me your opinions.
In the first pic (of 3 chickens on my deck), the hen in question is the yellow one. Notice her large comb and wattles? In the 2nd pic, you can see both of them (the 2 yellow ones). My assumed rooster is in the back of the pic. Notice his way smaller comb and wattles? Ad what I think are saddle feathers? The 3rd pic you can see the 2 of them side by side- really just to see the much smaller comb.
Finally, the 4th picture is just the 2 in question. They were standing at my back door looking into the house. The hen in question, Hei Hei, is on the left, while Kentucky is on the right. Notice how he has his neck stuck out? He is always doing that. You can also see the difference between the combs and wattles.
What do ya'll think?
