Question: Can a Hen ever have GREEN tail feathers?

[nursemeh]

I just need to know the answer to that simple question.
I raised 5 chicks that are now 4 months old and am having trouble accepting my bad luck that 4 of them are roosters. 3 of them are crowing. One of them acts like a pullet. One of them is a mystery but has lovely poufy tail feathers that are coming in that metallic green.

I just need to face reality. Do green tail feathers mean its a rooster?????

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Carpe DiHen]

Quote:

we need pictures and know what the breed is...but...yes...

Although, I have a Black Jersey Giant pullet that has green shine in her black feathers...but not metallic green

 

[Illia]

Pictures do help, but it depends on how green we're talking. If the tail feathers is all - It just may be a cockerel. But if you take black birds for example, pullets can also be pretty green. And, some EE pullets can have greenish tails as well.

 

[nursemeh]

thanks for the replies. I didnt need to post a pic after all- it started crowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bwwwaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Carpe DiHen]

Quote:
Wow, you got a lot of roos! Did you buy straight run?

 

[speckledhen]

Well, you know it's a rooster now, but see this RIR hen I used to have? Green sheening all over her black tailfeathers.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

argh... My two black EE chicks both have green tail feathers coming in.
Dad is black and tailed Arcauna. Mom is black EE with white undertones, not gold.
One acts and looks so roo-ish with a high tail, the other is muffed and has a low hen-like tail and is more submissive.
But they both have those green tail feathers!

 

[hinkjc]

Green tail feathers is not always a sign of roo, as Speckledhen has shown. Dark hens tend to get green feathers too. Also crowing is not a definitive sign of a roo. Hens can crow too. Post a pic and maybe we can help.

 

[greenSearcher]

My black EE pullet had green tail feathers, otherwise she was black with her breast feather shafts white. She was lovely, laid a nice aqua egg. RIR is not a hen feathered roo. So if that is a RIR, wait for the egg.