Roosters or hens?

[Klway29]

New chicken owner here and we’ve had 4 chickens we thought were hens for about a month now. I’m guessing they are around 4-5 months old so not quite laying yet. Went out this morning to let them out and heard crowing for the first time. Trying to figure out which one is the rooster.

 

[lagrange chicks]

I think Cockerels.

 

[WingItRanch]

The white one is a cockerel. I think maybe the black one too if it's closer to 4 months in age.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Personally, it's hard to see any overly roo signs in either of these in the photos, but I'm on a small mobile phone at the moment. If the black is an Australorpe, many of my Aussie ladies have had large combs & wattles, and that tail looks like a pullet tail. Are you sure it's one of these?

IMO easiest way to tell at this age (besides seeing one crow) is to check their hackle and saddle feathers. They should be filling in at this point and will be spiky and pointed on the ends vs rounded like a pullet.

This graphic may help.

 

[LaFleche]

Both look like males to me.

 

[Klway29]

Thanks for the feedback. These are my other 2 and I feel like they are hens.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

The white one is a cockerel. I think maybe the black one too if it's closer to 4 months in age.

I'm leaning toward this also. I'm most suspicious of the white one, and that IS a big comb on the black one for only 4 months. But stranger things have happened.

Look at the feathers. Or got a game cam? Good way to catch a crower in action.

Update us when you can!

 

[kattabelly]

Is that a tiny bit of red leakage on the black one?

 

[WingItRanch]

Is that a tiny bit of red leakage on the black one?

Good catch. I saw the red leakage on the white one which is what make me confident he's a cockerel but missed it on the black one.

For the original thread poster.. rust colored leakage around the shoulders is male specific.