pullet or roo?

[piratechicken]

We have four "red pullets" from TSC that are now about 14 weeks old. We have loved them and are enjoying the experience quite a bit. Our daughter has proven quite the chicken whisperer! I am starting to wonder if one of the four is actually a cockrel however. Comb and wattle are larger and more red than the other three and she/he may be a bit more lanky. We do occasionally hear a quiet "crow" ( kinda like a prolonged monosyllable low screech or moan - hard to explain) but this definitely comes from all of them. She/he - interestingly our daughter named him Arthur when they were all a couple days old - is easily the most skiddish and shys away from us, also the last one to come when we have treats.
We have not seen any mounting or any peck order fighting really from any them
could they possibly just be another breed - i think they listed 3-4 types that could be in the tub.

thanks for the help!

 

[hdowden]

yes that one is a cockerel

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, I am going to say that the one with that big ol' comb is a cockeral. Has he started crowing yet? You will know for certain when HE does not lay an egg.

 

[theoldchick]

Cockerel!

 

[piratechicken]

thanks, yall
that was my worry
no crowing yet - not offically allowed to have roos - so when he does start crowing he w ill have to go
he's most timid of the four and one of the hens actually seems to have taken on the role of protector as she usually shoos the dog away when they are out in the yard
thanks again

 

[piratechicken]

So this "fella" ended up being our first layer - wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it yesterday myself. 2 of the 4 are laying currently. Does the large floppy comb on a hen give any clue to the breed- I guess I need to post a new picture but it flops over to the side now.

 

[piratechicken]

"arthur"

 

[donrae]

Almost makes me wonder if it was crossed with some brown leghorn somewhere back a generation or two. That would explain the larger floppy comb and lighter, lankier build. I'm guessing it lays a brown egg?

 

[piratechicken]

yeah - we were wondering about leghorn too after looking around some- she lays a brown egg every day since she started laying