Orpington - Hens or Roos?

[Lynzi777]

Wondering if anyone can help me out here. I've been trying to read and go back to my chickens and look for all "signs" to tell if they are hens are or roos but I'm really having a hard time. Some say you can tell by the saddle feathers, some say the comb/wattle. My problem is, I have a lavender orp that has a much larger comb than the other two but it's tail/saddle feathers are much smaller. Then I have two orpingtons with barely a comb but larger tails/saddle feathers. So here are some pics...

Lavender Orp 1 with large comb, see the difference between the two lavender orp's combs?


But now look at it's tail.... And see how larger the tail feathers are on the one behind it...


Here are the two side by side. Also, anyone know what know what that one in the background might be - hen or roo? He's a BO/Black Sex Link mix.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

I would say the one with the big comb is a roo and the others are pullets.

 

[warmwater]

Hi,
How old are they? Tail feathers and saddle feathers are different....Saddle feathers are the feathers on the back before the tail. Roosters saddle feathers will be pointed and have a shine to them. You can check to see if your LO has any growing.....Hold him and move the feathers on his back before his tail. If you see new feathers starting to grow.....he is a rooster.

Also check the hackle feathers..(feathers on the neck)..If they are shiny and pointed...Rooster. Hens hackle feathers are rounded.

Legs also....males have thick legs.

You can't really tell by the pictures. Maybe you can take a few more close up of the back and neck. Age has a lot to do with it also...some hens mature faster and there
combs get redder before they start to lay.

Sorry I'm not much help.....but check feathers and get more picks to make sure. Others with more experience will comment soon.

 

[Lynzi777]

I'll go out and try to get some more. The lavenders are around 3 months old and my BO mix is 4 months old.

 

[Lynzi777]

Took a couple more updated pics of my orpingtons and orpington mix (the golden one). I've already been told the lavender pair is a hen and roo, and I'm guessing the golden one is a hen as well.




My Lavender Pair...


The whole gang...

 

[Pele]

Yup, you have a good ratio there. One manly Lavender Orp, and the rest are girls.

 

[Lynzi777]

Thanks! I did have another silkie that I'm 99% percent positive was a roo but he got attacked by something in the yard and didn't make it. Would have been nice to to get some silkie chicks out of that pair but now all I have is the one hen. :-( I'm sure I'll end up with some mutts at some point.

 

[Autumn D]

you can tell becuse the pullets will have small pale combs while cockerels have bigger red combs

 

[Autumn D]

i belive that all of your birds are hens

 

[Lynzi777]

Took some more pictures showing the "saddle feather" area of my lavender pair. Still think Hen and Roo? Or Hen & Hen



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