new pics of possible cockerel...??

[nayalusa]

Sorry for posting a new thread! I can't seem to find my other one...I'm new at this. Anyway, some had asked for closer pics of one of one of my 11 weeks old Black Australorps that I was questioning. I've put our main "crower" on craigslist and contacted our local 4-h group to see if anyone wants him. I'm holding out that this one may be a hen?? As she's only made one feeble attempt at a crow. I'm trying to look at saddle feathers but I'm just not good at it. Are wing feathers being angled or straight an indicator? The guy at the feed store said yes. Anyway, here's the pick of the last one in question. If she's not a she that would mean I got 3 cockerels out of 6 purchased 95% sexed chicks. Crazy.

 

[cassbickford]

Cockerel.

 

[donrae]

Cockerel. That's why age is important to know for sexing, as that much comb is perfectly respectable for a mature laying hen.

 

[Cyan Night]

Sometimes a roo won't try to crow as much when he's the only roo around. My neighbor has a roo, so when my guy heard him crow, he'd try to respond back. It's also possible your boy is just very quiet

 

[nayalusa]

yes they'll be 11 weeks this wednesday. The remaining three that are not in question at all have very small combs compared to my (apparently) 3 boys. Thank you.

 

[nayalusa]

Sometimes a roo won't try to crow as much when he's the only roo around. My neighbor has a roo, so when my guy heard him crow, he'd try to respond back. It's also possible your boy is just very quiet

So definitely not a question of he or she then I take it. Yes maybe just more quiet than the other TWO. What the heck? My next question should be how to choose which one to keep. I craigslisted the loud one that pecks the hens and seems a little more aggressive. The two left (one is pictured) are both equally mellow (for cockerels) but the hens seem to follow one better than the other. As long as the other boy stays mellow is it ok to keep two roo's for a while? I only have 3 hens left that are the same age but have 6 upcoming hens (hopefully) that are 1 week old today. So I'll have 9 total hens once they've matured.

 

[hdowden]

cockerel