Stupid question...could this be a rooster?!?!

[Rt66Kix]

I got a batch of pullets this past Easter. Recently I noticed one of the "hens" mounting another one. Also, this particular "hen" seems to have a fuller ruff and longer tail feathers than the others. "She" also is quite a bit larger. I do believe this is an Easter egger, but is it possible I have a rooster? So far have heard no crowing. Feel free to laugh at me, but I've never had a rooster before! From raising parrots, I know sometimes hens can show dominance by mimicking breeding behavior.

 

[Cinnamon11]

Can you get a closer picture of the saddle feathers? I’m almost sure it’s a roo sorry

 

[imnukensc]

Yes, that is a cockerel/rooster.

 

[DobieLover]

Yes. You have an EE cockerel.
No one here would laugh at you for not being certain what a cockerel/rooster looks like in comparison to a pullet/hen, especially when you've never had one.
For this boy, the dead give away are his gender specific long pointed saddle feathers. The saddle feathers of pullets/hens are shorter and rounded.

Also compare his hackle feathers to the girls. His are also longer and more pointed.
He's quite a beauty! Will you be keeping him?

 

[Ebony Rose]

What a lovely boy.

 

[Rt66Kix]

Thank you all very much. The farm where I board my horses, and have my chickens, does not want roosters because of the crowing. At what age do they start crowing? Is there such a thing as a rooster that doesn't crow? I really don't want to get rid of him!

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Thank you all very much. The farm where I board my horses, and have my chickens, does not want roosters because of the crowing. At what age do they start crowing? Is there such a thing as a rooster that doesn't crow? I really don't want to get rid of him!

Depends on the bird honestly. Some start as soon as they hit puberty and some can take a year or so to start.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you all very much. The farm where I board my horses, and have my chickens, does not want roosters because of the crowing. At what age do they start crowing? Is there such a thing as a rooster that doesn't crow? I really don't want to get rid of him!

It varies. Usually by 15 weeks, they've made their first attempt.
Maybe this guy being so quiet already won't be annoying to the farm owners and they'll let him stay.

 

[Rt66Kix]

Yes. You have an EE cockerel.
No one here would laugh at you for not being certain what a cockerel/rooster looks like in comparison to a pullet/hen, especially when you've never had one.
For this boy, the dead give away are his gender specific long pointed saddle feathers. The saddle feathers of pullets/hens are shorter and rounded.
View attachment 2396432
Also compare his hackle feathers to the girls. His are also longer and more pointed.
He's quite a beauty! Will you be keeping him?

Yes, as his tail feathers grew in I could tell they were different than the hens. Keeping him depends upon the property owners. If he is loud and obnoxious he will have to go. Breaks my heart, because out of all of the chicks I got this past spring, his coloring is my favorite.

 

[Rt66Kix]

It varies. Usually by 15 weeks, they've made their first attempt.
Maybe this guy being so quiet already won't be annoying to the farm owners and they'll let him stay.

According to my calculations, he's 29 weeks old. Let's hope he's mute!