One roo attacked another roo today

[QChickieMama]

Size is not always a good indicator of gender. Females frequently have dark iridescent feathers, which are not an exclusive rooter trait.

Comb and wattle size and color (larger and redder) can help determine roos. Also, look for narrow and pionted saddle and hackle feathers, which the males start to develop around 4 months (sometimes sooner or later). If you can post pics I'm sure we could help you figure out if you've got boys.

Temperament can be hard to judge at this age. The most docile rooster might come out of his shell when the other, more dominant roosters are removed, and turn into a real turd. Most roosters are fine, but there is lots of good info about raising respectful roos. There is a good article in the Learning Center you can search out. If your biggest guy (BR/Am cross) has a pea comb, he may pass on the gene for blue eggs, so may be your keeper if you are interested in breeding green or olive eggers. The fact that he is aggressive now means that he takes his job seriously, and may be an excellent flock protector. The over aggression may be a condition of crowding with too many other males.

It's hard to decide! Post pics and we'll help!

In the morning, I'll take some photos and get everyone's feedback on gender. I do need to know at this point!

The barn stall they're in is huge--maybe 15x15 or so? I only have 7 in there, so I thought it was spacious. My chicken tractors have 5 and 6 in each (they're 6'x3'), and they're kinda tight. Planning to take 1 out of the 6 tractor.

I'll take a special photo of the BR/Am roo so you can tell me about his comb. I don't know about all these things yet.

My other older roo (Am) that's the 6th in a tractor is such a passive guy. Definitely the bottom of the pecking order among the 6 of them. A bit pathetic, but I guess he did his job to produce the 7 offspring.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Size is not always a good indicator of gender. Females frequently have dark iridescent feathers, which are not an exclusive rooter trait.

Comb and wattle size and color (larger and redder) can help determine roos. Also, look for narrow and pionted saddle and hackle feathers, which the males start to develop around 4 months (sometimes sooner or later). If you can post pics I'm sure we could help you figure out if you've got boys.

Temperament can be hard to judge at this age. The most docile rooster might come out of his shell when the other, more dominant roosters are removed, and turn into a real turd. Most roosters are fine, but there is lots of good info about raising respectful roos. There is a good article in the Learning Center you can search out. If your biggest guy (BR/Am cross) has a pea comb, he may pass on the gene for blue eggs, so may be your keeper if you are interested in breeding green or olive eggers. The fact that he is aggressive now means that he takes his job seriously, and may be an excellent flock protector. The over aggression may be a condition of crowding with too many other males.

It's hard to decide! Post pics and we'll help!

I'm with Wishing4Wings--sometimes the more aggressive rooster is the best flock boss. If he's aggressive with just the other roosters but respectful to the hens and to humans, he might be just the bird you need. I wouldn't cull the one you like best just because he's aggressive to other male birds. I've heard a LOT of stories on BYC of roosters that were quiet and sweet at this age but grew up to become human-attacking monsters.

 

[QChickieMama]

So, let me know, everyone. Am I guessing their genders correctly? This one: red hen.


This one, a red rooster. Long tail feathers?


Kazoo, the barred rock roo that crows like a kazoo.


Orange hen. Black hen behind the orange one?


Black hen? She has crippled toes but seems just fine.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

So, let me know, everyone. Am I guessing their genders correctly? This one: red hen. Sorry, pretty sure this is a rooster. You can see narrow, pointed saddle feathers (on back at base of tail) and hackle feathers (neck). You can also see spur bud development. His wings are also a darker red than the rest of the body, which is common for cockerels. Crosses can be confusing because these types have more compact combs and small or no wattles, so it makes them look more like pullets. He doesn't have much of a tail either.


This one, a red rooster. Long tail feathers? Yes, but not necessarily because of the tail feathers. It's those narrow pointed shiny red saddle feathers that are the give away. They are the feathers on his rump trailing over the white patch. Only rooster get these feathers. He's got the dark red wings too.


Kazoo, the barred rock roo that crows like a kazoo. Yes, another cockerel with a great name! See the saddle feathers and bright red face? Also, in the barred rocks, the males have more white in their barring making them look much lighter than the pullets. You can usually tell as soon as they start to feather out. (The young BR in your first post is a nice dark pullet.)


Orange hen. Black hen behind the orange one? Yes, both hens. Nice girlish fat rounded feathers in the saddle area. Small combs. Getting plump and closer to laying. You should get some pretty green eggs.


Black hen? She has crippled toes but seems just fine. Yes, female. Poor girl with those toes. She won't be able to scratch well, so you may occasionally want to check to see if her nails need trimming.

 

[adgcountrygirl]

Very helpful. Thanks!

Judging from their tail feathers, I think 3 are roos. Hens don't grow longer greenish tail feathers, right? And the roos are larger birds.

Depends on the breed... I had a male that was smaller than some of my females. Some females do have some metallic green feathers, but usually the males tail feathers are longer and have a curve to them. I do have a few girls with longer than average tails, but their tail feathers are still straight. Also, some hens will fight with lesser roos. Example: I have a roo that is almost a year younger than my 2 dominant males. None of the older girls or even the girls his age will allow him to breed with them because he is not the "Flock Master" and any time he tries, the girls are actually bold enough to fight him off if neither dominant male is close enough to handle the situation. (Said roo is now in the Bachelor Pad for that reason!)

PS... Your Barred Rock is not only a male, but if his comb stays kinda flat, (and I suspect it will) he's a Dominique not a Barred Rock...

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Your red birds are roosters--both of them. Look at the very long feathers that are around the neck and right in front of the tail. The feathers are long and skinny and pointy. Then look at the hen you call your orange hen, the one with the dark lacing on the feathers. See how her feathers at the neck and right in front of the tail are rounder and not long and skinny? The feathers at the neck (hackle feathers) and in front of the tail (saddle feathers) are a dead give-away for male.

When those boys are over a year old, they will probably have very long tail feathers. But right now, it's the hackle and saddle feathers that are the give-away. Here's a photo of a my red rooster--I would expect your boys to look similar when fully mature. Can you see how he has chains of long, skinny saddle feathers?

 

[QChickieMama]

Your red birds are roosters--both of them. Look at the very long feathers that are around the neck and right in front of the tail. The feathers are long and skinny and pointy. Then look at the hen you call your orange hen, the one with the dark lacing on the feathers. See how her feathers at the neck and right in front of the tail are rounder and not long and skinny? The feathers at the neck (hackle feathers) and in front of the tail (saddle feathers) are a dead give-away for male.

When those boys are over a year old, they will probably have very long tail feathers. But right now, it's the hackle and saddle feathers that are the give-away. Here's a photo of a my red rooster--I would expect your boys to look similar when fully mature. Can you see how he has chains of long, skinny saddle feathers?

He's a good-looking roo! I can see the hackle feathers now on mine and can recognize the other red cockerel. Ugh. No wonder they were fighting with 4 M: 3 F ratio.