Rooster or Nah?

[foolishcop]

...because Squanto sounds like it's trying to crow. It's also larger than the other Barred Rock I have (and the Buff Orpington and Rhode Island Reds), is braver, first out of the coop, and has the top spot in the pecking order when garden scraps and other food is thrown into the pen. It's about 8 weeks old.

I've been hoping against hope it is not a cockerel because I will have to get rid of it then. I'm already running my tiny chicken operation on the down-low because they're reportedly not allowed in my town. I'm operating on the "it's better to do and ask for forgiveness, than seek permission and be denied" principle. A rooster crowing would really mess all that up (not to mention I ordered all hens).

Aside from the (very) few crowing attempts, it looks like those tail feathers are beginning to turn into the more showy ones I've seen indicative of a cockerel.

 

[Trish1974]

I'm no expert, but if that bird is only 8 weeks old that is definitely a cockerel! Way too much comb and wattles to be a pullet at that age.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Yep, that is a cockerel.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Cockerel

 

[rebrascora]

No doubt about it I'm afraid. If it is any consolation, cockerels are usually sweet and friendly at that age but often become a pain in the butt when they hit adolescence and start raping and pillaging the pullets and sometimes become human aggressive too, so you are not missing out on much in getting rid of him.
Good luck with keeping your remaining girls under wraps. Hens can be as noisy as roosters just usually at more sociable hours.... ie not at 3am!

 

[foolishcop]

Thanks everyone. Sadly, he's going to have to go. Today, he won't shut up! LOL! All morning long he's been crowing.