Roo or Hen?

[mwepps68]

This is Kit Kat. I'm 99% sure that what we bought as a pullet is actually a roo, but wanted to get a more knowledgeable opinion. Ultimatley, it doesn't matter either way, we have no neighbors to bother with the crowing and we are well within the ordinances for where we live. To be honest at this point I think we'd be disappointed if Kit Kat was a hen. He (we have already started referring to Kit Kat as a he) rounds up the rest of the flock each evening and gets them in the coop then waits on the bottom roosting bar until everyone settles down before he gets in his spot. The second pic has a barred rock hen standing beside Kit Kat showing the constrast in coloring. Just wondering what everyone thinks.

 

[rural mouse]

You're correct. Kit Kat is a roo.

 

[Sussex19]

Yup, cockerel.
(male chickens are cockerels up to one year of age, they then become roosters)

 

[mwepps68]

Yup, cockerel.
(male chickens are cockerels up to one year of age, they then become roosters)

Thank you. I didn't know that there was a distinction between the two. Learned something new today!

 

[rural mouse]

Thank you. I didn't know that there was a distinction between the two. Learned something new today!

Pullets vs hens same thing.

Also, Roos are ZZ and hens are ZW. Barring is on the Z chromosome, so pure blood barred roos look white with black stripes, while the hens look black with white stripes.