Welsummer Hen is Crowing

[Fotogrlnic]

hello! I have a 9/10 week old Welsummer who I am 99% sure is a she. If you look online at photos of hens vs roosters of this breed, you’ll see distinct differences. I’ll attach a photo for you of her. A few times a week she has crowed in the morning. Not extremely early and not extremely loudly. I’ve read a few suggestions of switching to layer feed to help with a possible hormonal imbalance. Has anyone had any luck with this? We are not allowed roosters, and I’d hate to have to get rid of her. But if it gets worse, I might have to try to re home her. She is not laying yet. Also, if I switch to layer feed (do you think that’s ok), al of them will have to be on layer feed (obviously). Thank you!!

 

[TheYLWFlock]

That is actually a cockerel. Extremely large and red comb/wattles for a 9-10 week old bird. Also, very large feet and a big upright tail. Possibly the beginnings of saddle feathers, but maybe not... A bird crowing at that age is almost always a cockerel. Usually hens don’t crow at all and I believe that if they do, it’s not until they are sexually mature? Correct me if I’m wrong. If it hasn’t laid an egg then there is no way to prove that it is a she. Everything is pointing to roo st this point.

Sorry to tell you this.

 

[woodenfarm]

I thought there is a difference in the hen and rooster colors also.
I say that because online the color pattern is different on roo

I have one that looks like that and it makes a different sound no crowing but a different sound then any of my other hens. And the colors show a girl and no saddle feathers

 

[KikiLeigh02]

A 9/10 week old with that comb, those wattles, thick legs, and is already crowing is a cockerel. This thread has a nice progression to show the difference in coloring between Welsummer pullets and cockerels:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rence-between-a-welsummer-pullet-cock.288773/

 

[Fotogrlnic]

That is actually a cockerel. Extremely large and red comb/wattles for a 9-10 week old bird. Also, very large feet and a big upright tail. Possibly the beginnings of saddle feathers, but maybe not... A bird crowing at that age is almost always a cockerel. Usually hens don’t crow at all and I believe that if they do, it’s not until they are sexually mature? Correct me if I’m wrong. If it hasn’t laid an egg then there is no way to prove that it is a she. Everything is pointing to roo st this point.

Sorry to tell you this.

If you look at the photo below, it too shows a female with a large comb and wattle. Mine looks almost exactly like the hen and nothing like the rooster...Don't you think?

 

[Fotogrlnic]

A 9/10 week old with that comb, those wattles, thick legs, and is already crowing is a cockerel. This thread has a nice progression to show the difference in coloring between Welsummer pullets and cockerels:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rence-between-a-welsummer-pullet-cock.288773/

If you look at the photo below, it too shows a female with a large comb and wattle. Mine looks almost exactly like the hen and nothing like the rooster...Don't you think?

 

[Fotogrlnic]

A 9/10 week old with that comb, those wattles, thick legs, and is already crowing is a cockerel. This thread has a nice progression to show the difference in coloring between Welsummer pullets and cockerels:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rence-between-a-welsummer-pullet-cock.288773/

If you look at the photo below, it too shows a female with a large comb and wattle. Mine looks almost exactly like the hen and nothing like the rooster...Don't you think?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

That is a fully mature hen, not a 9/10 week old chick. He won't get his male feathering until 12-15 weeks.

 

[Bonniebooboo]

Cockerel. Agree with Kikileigh02

 

[PachecoPeeps]

So my welsummers pullets are 14 weeks and have no where near the comb and waddles or yours. Pics aren’t great I just ran out to snap a couple for you for comparison. Hope this helps.