Roo or Hen??

[4n6chick]

Not sure if it's too early to tell, but here's one of our Black Australorp chickens that is looking a little roo-ish. It's 11 weeks old, and looks drastically different from our other BA. The other BA has no comb and it's feathers look more uniform and rounder. The thing that is throwing me off (from my research on BYC at others asking the same question) is that it's comb is jagged all the way to the back and the waddles are wider than they are long... Any thoughts? Is it too early to tell?

 

[farmer boy]

if it has pointy feathers like its hackle feathers and saddle feathers its a cockerel but i think it is a cockerel because it has a lot of comb and wattles for a pullet .. if you can get a closer shot of his neck feathers / head area i could prob tell better

 

[donrae]

At 11 weeks, there's no question that's a young rooster.

 

[4n6chick]

Here's three more pics. Two of the chicken in question, and one of our other one that's the same age. I know I probably look a little silly when you see them side by side, but I read on some website that someone's hen had developed earlier than the others and that made it look like a rooster... Anyhow, hopefully these pics are better:

 

[4n6chick]

Thanks farmer boy and donrae for the replies! These are our first chickens and we have no idea what we're doing!

 

[farmer boy]

ya its a cockerel you can see the pointy hackle feathers .. but hes nice looking

 

[donrae]

If your bird were 17 weeks and looking like that, I'd say it's just an early developing pullet. Age is everything!

 

[4n6chick]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you both taking time to help a newbie!

 

[farmer boy]

no problem .. we were newbies with chickens at one point .. i have only been raising chickens / ducks for a little over a year and i raise all different kinds of chickens and i also have some black australorps .. i have 3 hens their rooster was killed a really heavy bored was knocked down and he was at the wrong spot at the wrong time and then he got killed but it broke his neck so at least it was fast

 

[4n6chick]

Oh no! How tragic! At least he didn't suffer... 3 months ago, I never would have understood caring about a chicken, but I GET it now... They are so lovable, with such amazing personalities!