Rooster or Hen?

[sslavo91]

How old do they generally need to be before you can tell if you have roosters or hens? And, how do you tell?

 

[digitS']

You haven't said what breed they are.

Sometimes and with some breeds, it's difficult to know their gender right up until the pullets start laying. With some roosters, they may not crow until nearly 20 weeks. But, usually this isn't the case.

It is possible to recognize rooster characteristics about 5 weeks but often, this is just a suspicion. Our last (unwanted) cockerel began to crow (sort of) before he was 8 weeks. That was pretty much a give away.

He was already a little bigger than the pullets with larger legs, especially. His comb was larger than most all of them. Along about 15 weeks, he would have begun to develop "saddle feathers" and longer tail feathers. However, he was re-homed and I visited him a couple days ago. At 20 weeks, he looks every bit a rooster.

Welcome to BYC

!!

Steve

 

[kstaven]

What breed? With some it is easy while other breeds you wait until they crow or lay an egg.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts.