What breed of gender is this?

[Vickischics]

Hi all,
my family and I are new Chicken owners and we got 3 free chickens (1 rooster 2 hens) from our neighbour about 4 months ago when they were around 3-4 months (so our neighbour said). They were good for about 1- 2 months and then the hens started to crow and fight with each other. We thought they were hens but could we be wrong? We’ve looked at several blogs about it and mentions hens taking on male characteristics or behaviours if thereis no rooster present in the flock. However, we do have a rooster. Any idea what is going on? Are they actually roosters? Help and ideas would be much appreciated!

I'm sorry, your neighbors played a terrible joke on you. I think you should take all of them back and say..."Thanks but, NO Thanks!" Because they dumped their problem on you.
Now, that you like having chickens, take those back and go get yourself some females.
Before you purchase any, ask on here how to go about it to get yourself some female pullets. If you order them from a hatchery, you may have to pay more for the sexing unless you get Sex Linked. But, it's well worth the little extra money to get what you want and not get stuck with three Cockerels. Are you sure your neighbors like you? I won't like them after that dirty trick.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh. Dang. Thanks for all your replies! We had an inkling but got confused... I guess we just needed confirmation! How could you tell?

Also, is it normal for them (the smaller white one and the brown one) to answer the call of the Light Sussex rooster and go to him when he’s found something good to eat??? And do they normally roost together? I thought roosters were territorial but they seem to be comfortable with the Light Sussex sleeping in between them at night.

I could easily tell by the pointed saddle feathers.

Those are still cockerels (male chicken under a year old) as hormones rage especially next spring they may not be such good friends.

I would let your friend know and then either give them back to them or try to rehome them.
I would not recommend keeping a rooster with anything under 10 hens. They will be overbred, stressed and likely injured.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Oh. Dang. Thanks for all your replies! We had an inkling but got confused... I guess we just needed confirmation! How could you tell?

Also, is it normal for them (the smaller white one and the brown one) to answer the call of the Light Sussex rooster and go to him when he’s found something good to eat??? And do they normally roost together? I thought roosters were territorial but they seem to be comfortable with the Light Sussex sleeping in between them at night.

Well, they have no hens to fight over.
You can keep them together like this if you want.
But don’t get hens if you want to keep them all unless you can have 45+ hens.

 

[Tonyroo]

Is that a rule of 1 rooster to 10 hens for all breeds of chickens? Just curious.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Is that a rule of 1 rooster to 10 hens for all breeds of chickens? Just curious.

Depends on the breed. These guys would be able to manage around 12-15 each.
And if there are more than 2 roos you need a few extra hens.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Hi all,
my family and I are new Chicken owners and we got 3 free chickens (1 rooster 2 hens) from our neighbour about 4 months ago when they were around 3-4 months (so our neighbour said). They were good for about 1- 2 months and then the hens started to crow and fight with each other. We thought they were hens but could we be wrong? We’ve looked at several blogs about it and mentions hens taking on male characteristics or behaviours if there is no rooster present in the flock. However, we do have a rooster. Any idea what is going on? Are they actually roosters? Help and ideas would be much appreciated!

You have been duped. You won't be getting eggs anytime soon. I see a barnyard mix, Light Sussex, and Red sexlink cockerels. Good luck with your beautiful boys!

 

[Elmaq]

Thanks everyone for the shared wisdom!

Our neighbours are good friends of ours and they’re new to keeping chickens as well. They wanted to share the chickens they got (also free from somewhere) when they acquired them because they knew we were also interested. I think they also ran into some rooster problems.

Well, off to rehome two of these boys! We’re going to keep the Sussex and get some hens

 

[21hens-incharge]

Is that a rule of 1 rooster to 10 hens for all breeds of chickens? Just curious.

It isn't a hard and fast rule. A lot depends on the roosters temperament. Some roosters are very gentle with the ladies while others are very.....assertive.
Young roosters and those in flocks with more than one tend to be more....assertive.

Thanks everyone for the shared wisdom!

Our neighbours are good friends of ours and they’re new to keeping chickens as well. They wanted to share the chickens they got (also free from somewhere) when they acquired them because they knew we were also interested. I think they also ran into some rooster problems.

Well, off to rehome two of these boys! We’re going to keep the Sussex and get some hens

Sounds like a plan. Your sussex is a big guy and quite handsome. I would try and get a breed that is on the larger side.

 

[Glennzo]

All Roos. We have 10 hens and had 1 Roo that we hatched in March this year. I rehomed him because he was just too aggressive with the Matriarch hen(my big black Australorp). He tended to like to mate 1 hen. You could see after a few days that her back feathers were starting to go untidy. All round there was just too much stress on the hens with a young roo - so that’s why we rehomed him. The girls come first for me.