The leg line?

[BlindLemonChicken]

You know that line on a rooster's legs that looks like a red vein and is a hormone/virility thing? 1) what is it called? And 2) is it strictly a rooster thing or just a mature chicken thing? I noticed it on one of my Delawares yesterday and I have been suspicious it's a cockerel for some time but it's not super obvious yet. Then I realized I don't know what that veiny thing is called (is it just a vein?) and if pullets get it as well when they near POL. These birds are late September hatch so no eggs yet. No crowing either haha

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

Picture please.

If you use deep litter bedding red legs can also be a burn from ammonia.

Also, with a picture the "chick experts" can tell boy/girl from feathers

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Picture please.

If you use deep litter bedding red legs can also be a burn from ammonia.

Also, with a picture the "chick experts" can tell boy/girl from feathers

No it's not an ammonia burn. There aren't any male-specific feathers yet. I will post a picture but I don't have a good one of his legs yet

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If you zoom in on his leg in this picture you can see a bit of the line

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

This is the best I could do. He's being an ass sitting on the picnic table since I let them out for a photo session. They have both always been very friendly but he would sit on the back of my chair which I always thought was kind of a jerk rooster move lol

 

[21hens-incharge]

What a pretty pullet!

It looks like my birds legs when it's cold outside.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

What a pretty pullet!

It looks like my birds legs when it's cold outside.

The other Delaware doesn't have it though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe she isn't as cold?

At 16 (ish) weeks it's a bit early for eggs but she looks pretty close.