Rhode Island Red: Hen or roo?

[SluceableMocha]

This RIR has a much bigger wattle and comb than my other one, which I know is a hen. Is it a rooster? It's about 20 weeks old now.

 

[DesertBird]

I believe so? My 3 RIR cockerel's are about 16 weeks and look quite a bit like yours, comb and wattle wise. Is yours crowing? But the coloring reminds me of my pullets, and the feathers seem wider than what my boys have, looks more like the ones my girls have. The legs also aren't very thick or yellow, like the ones on the cockerel's I have.

 

[SluceableMocha]

No signs of crowing yet. No spurs, either. Do yours have spurs?

 

[DesertBird]

No signs of crowing yet. No spurs, either. Do yours have spurs?

Nope, none of 'em. I'm not sure when they grow them in - I thought they would already be there by now. Mine definitely crow up a huge storm for about 2-3 hours every morning.

 

[ehoogy]

My RIR has a hudge comb! She lays double yolks!

 

[DesertBird]

Are you able to upload any more pictures tomorrow? I know it's dark out now.

Also, here are a few pics of mine for you to compare yours with - each pic is of a different one.

 

[Pyxis]

I'm not seeing any signs of hackle or saddle feathers in this picture, so it's quite possible that she's coming into lay, is all. Hens can have large combs like that, especially very dominant ones.

Do you see any long, pointy, shiny, skinny feathers in her neck or above her tail? At this age, if she was a cockerel, I would expect them to be present.

A closer up picture taken in profile would be helpful.

Just to note, spurs don't indicate a bird is a rooster, either. Hens get them too. I have had two hens that developed spurs. In some breeds, like sumatras, hens nearly always develop spurs.

 

[ehoogy]

Are you able to upload any more pictures tomorrow? I know it's dark out now.

I'll get you a pic tomorrow!

 

[SluceableMocha]

That's encouraging! I live in the city so we can't have roosters. I'm hoping it's a hen with a fabulous, beautiful comb haha! But it's not crowing at all, not even a peep. We have our back windows open all night until about 8am, one is in our bedroom, so I'm sure we'd notice crowing.

 

[DesertBird]

That's encouraging! I live in the city so we can't have roosters. I'm hoping it's a hen with a fabulous, beautiful comb haha! But it's not crowing at all, not even a peep. We have our back windows open all night until about 8am, one is in our bedroom, so I'm sure we'd notice crowing.

Hope it's a girl, then! One of my BR's has a huge comb like that - she's definitely got a comb over. If you do get any cockerel's, there's apparently this thing called a No-Crow Collar that's supposed to be humane and just blocks them from crowing somehow. Not sure, I haven't tried it because my neighbors have rooster's that crow, so everyone in my little rural neighborhood is alright with the rooster's. I personally love the sound.