Safe to assume by 17 wks that I don't have a roo?

[dulcimer lady]

My dh is really chomping at the bit to go buy a roo...today. And I'm fine with having one but just want to know that he's the only one. I have a flock of 9 that are 17 weeks old. They are all supposed to be pullets - but bought them at tsc and you know how that goes sometimes. No one is acting macho out there and everyone gets along. Some do have quite a bit of red around their faces but I've seen plenty of pic of females on here who look like that. I'm not sure I can hold dh back....but don't want roos fighting either. What would you do?

 

[OrloffTom]

Check and see if any of them have the different feathers towards it's tail. A rooster's tail is different than the hens so you should be able to tell by now. Mine are 16wks and I could really tell a few weeks ago. Anyway hope that helps. If you had pictures I'm sure we all could probably tell you for sure.

 

[oldchickenlady]

I bought 12 that were supposed to be all pullets...6 RIR's and 6 Buff O's. Well, it was apparent by week 7 or 8 that one of them was 'different'! His comb and wattles were way more obvious than the girls'. I don't now what kind of chickens you have, but I would think in most cases you would be able to tell by 17 weeks if any of them were roos. Except for silkies...I've never had silkies, but I can't tell anything about them except they are fluffy!

 

[sourland]

EE can hide their masculinity for quite a while. Any other of the standard production breeds should be exhibiting secondary sex characteristics by now: crowing, greatly enlarged comb and wattles, pointy hackle feathers(neck), pointy sickle feathers(back and flanks). Silkies are also good at the metrosexual look.