Roo?

[lizziebeth66]

I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out if this is a rooster. I swear I heard him try to crow today he will be 8 weeks Wednesday

 

[lizziebeth66]

This might be s better picture

 

[junebuggena]

Doesn't look like a boy yet. Most cockerels are pretty red in the comb by 8 weeks old.

 

[12 gauge]

looks like a hen to me

 

[Michael OShay]

I agree with junebuggena and 12 gauge that it looks like a pullet, but your comment about crowing has me concerned. While hens have been know to crow, it's almost always an older hen that has take up the role of a rooster in a roosterless flock. You could have a "stealth" cockerel.

 

[Cowgirl71]

This might be s better picture

This one's definitely a rooster, though he doesn't look developed enough to have started crowing already.

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm betting roo, very young cockerels can crow,

 

[Cowgirl71]

I'm betting roo,  very young cockerels can crow, 

Very true, I have heard of cockerels starting to crow as early as 6 weeks, most often Leghorns and Fayoumis, who mature rapidly, with roosters frequently having big bright red combs by 6-8 weeks of age.

I personally have never had cockerels start crowing earlier than 10-12 weeks, but that's not to say it doesn't happen. Most of the cockerels I've raised have been Rhode Island Reds or Rhode Island Red crosses, like yours, and they've always had a sizable comb and wattles though when they've started crowing for me, at least a half inch tall, usually much more, and scarlet red, with the shiny "greasy" rooster feathers just starting to come in; i.e., obvious roosters. This one's just starting to show, hence why I'm wondering if there's a chance it was a different bird you heard crowing.