Possible Rooster?

[ChicadOro]

So after finding an egg yolk that looks like it's fertilized and was 2nd'd here on BYC, we want to see if we do actually have a rooster. We have several chicken laying that we know that are pullet, so we've excluded those, I've either seen them laying or seen them nesting in the nesting boxes. So it narrows it down to our three youngest chickens and one that is not squatting or seems to be nesting (the Black Star/sex link - which maybe isn't and is something else? - We did get this one at Rural King, the other three are from Meyer Hatchery).

The Black Star/Black sex link is 20 weeks old, the Silver Laced Wyandotte, Green Queen, and Blue Copper Maran are all 16 weeks old. We're seeing no mounting, no crowing, nothing. We believed they were all pullets.

 

[3KillerBs]

seen them nesting in the nesting boxes.

That doesn't exclude cockerels -- good males will go into the boxes and try to tell the ladies that they've found a good place for the eggs.

So better add photos of the ones who have been in the boxes but haven't been seen laying too.

 

[Painted Calls]

So, I'll ask it here as well, because this is what started all of this, and I got a confirmation that the egg looks fertilized - since this is what this is all about, too - is this egg fertilized?

View attachment 3278889

Bullseyes are not an accurate way to judge if an egg is fertile. Plenty of people with female-only flocks get them too.

 

[Painted Calls]

The Wyandotte has a pretty course head for a pullet, but I see zero male specific markers. Maybe update us on that one in a few weeks just in case. Others are 100% for sure females.

 

[ChicadOro]

Bullseyes are not an accurate way to judge if an egg is fertile. Plenty of people with female-only flocks get them too.

Thank you, we were just so surprised that see that, but if it means nothing really, then we will just go under the assumption that are all females right now. If the Wyandotte ends up being a rooster, it's fine, we can have one of those as well.

 

[ChicadOro]

A little update, the Silver Laced Wyandotte is a pullet for sure, she started squatting and gave me her first (small) egg yesterday. I still have the black sex link/star not laying, and it's been 25 weeks. I just checked her again today, and her vent is still very closed looking - her comb and wattle are a little bigger and red, so I'm still hopeful for her to lay soon. All the other girls we got at the same time as her are laying. I expect that our other two will lay in the next few weeks as well.

 

[ChicadOro]

The Wyandotte has a pretty course head for a pullet, but I see zero male specific markers. Maybe update us on that one in a few weeks just in case. Others are 100% for sure females.

Okay, I will let you know.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So after finding an egg yolk that looks like it's fertilized and was 2nd'd here on BYC, we want to see if we do actually have a rooster. We have several chicken laying that we know that are pullet, so we've excluded those, I've either seen them laying or seen them nesting in the nesting boxes. So it narrows it down to our three youngest chickens and one that is not squatting or seems to be nesting (the Black Star/sex link - which maybe isn't and is something else? - We did get this one at Rural King, the other three are from Meyer Hatchery).

The Black Star/Black sex link is 20 weeks old, the Silver Laced Wyandotte, Green Queen, and Blue Copper Maran are all 16 weeks old. We're seeing no mounting, no crowing, nothing. We believed they were all pullets.

All birds pictured appear female. Can you get a close-up of the comb and clearer photo of the Wyandotte?

 

[ChicadOro]

All birds pictured appear female. Can you get a close-up of the comb and clearer photo of the Wyandotte?

Let me try, it's getting dark here.

 

[SourRoses]

Okay, here the Wyandotte is, the one picture is a little blurry, but hopefully this can help.

That's a little bit much in the wattles for a SLW hen. It could just be due to hatchery breeding. The comb also looks strange for a SLW. I would mark this one as suspicious for now.

How do they behave with one another?
I generally have an easier time telling the boys from girls based on their attitudes, but most of those hints are something you have to suss out in person. Hens can be mean to each other but it's generally over food or territory. Cockerels tend to act aggressively when trying to herd the hens or mate with them. With the good guys the girls tend to show reliance on him to do everything first - go into the scary new place, come out from under the bushes after an alert, find the best goodies, and so on.
Not everyone has the spare time, but if you do, some extra time sitting in a lawn chair watching chicken t.v. can help you unmask the sneaky ones.