Rooster or Hen? Please help!!

[ahuskonen]

About three months ago a purchased 2 chicks, I was told that they were all hens in the brooder, so I grabbed up 2 and didn't think anything of it. Although I'm an in inexperienced chicken owner I did notice the drastic appearance in my 2 growing pullets. Even as same age chicks on was bigger, much bigger. I inquired about the difference to my local feed store owner, I though maybe one was a mix or something, but he said it was unlikely that the hatchery would make that kind of mistake, maybe one was a bantam or something. We'll fast forward a fee months and one has a large well defined comb and long tail feathers, and the other looks like you would expect a pullet to look at 3 months old. Again, I didn't think much of it, I only have two, they are pets and not bein familiar with this breed of chicken thought it could be a breed characteristic. It wasn't until I posted pictures on Facebook and got comments like, "I want chickens too, but only hens" and "that looks like a male" (from other people that don't have chickens) that it started to dawn on me that maybe my sweet, hand raised pullet might actually be a rooster! Now that I'm thinking about it I'm noticing things that are making me think twice as well. Like I've seen the hackles raised on the one in question and I've seen him/her put the small pullet in her place. The bird in question will also regulate my bunnies when they get too close to the coop or are Co mingling in the yard. It's never tried to bite or shown any sign of agression toward humans. So I'm looking for an expert opinion. Thanks.

 

[Pyxis]

He is definitely a cockerel, sorry If you're allowed roosters where you live and have enough hens, you could go ahead and keep him, he's very pretty and he sounds like a good rooster. If you only have the two birds and want to keep him, you'll want to get four to nine more hens.

 

[cityfarmer88]

He looks like a rooster to me because of the shape of his tail im not an expert but thats what it looks like to me

 

[islandgirl82]

That's one beautiful cockerel you have. The feathers around the neck are called hackle feathers. On a Pullet, they'll be rounded on the tips and be tight/close to the neck. On a cockerel, you'll see the hackles are long, thin and pointed and they're quite loose/flowing around the neck. Next are the saddle feathers. They are those long thin feathers that start between the wings and drape to either side of the body. Those feathers are only on males. Then of course there are the sickle feathers. Those long, curled over tail feathers that add such presence to a rooster.

 

[ahuskonen]

Thank you so much for confirming my delayed suspicions. He's such a sweet bird, I wish I could keep him and get him more hens, but I'm in an urban setting . I'll have to find him a good home with lots of girls.