What is this? Help me out.

[infinitepizza]

This big black one. It's about 19 weeks old, supposedly a black australorp, and it's supposed to be female. But is it? It's so much bigger than the other black australorp females I have. I have 2 other roosters (of another breed) who are always challenging each other, but I have never seen this one exhibit any rooster behavior, despite it being the largest bird in my flock. The whole flock was hatched at the same time.

 

[Painted Calls]

Black Australorp. He is indeed a cockerel.

 

[3KillerBs]

Definitely male.

If the soles of his feet are white rather than yellow then he's an Australop (if yellow, a Jersey Giant).

No guarantees, but my Australorp boys have been laid-back gentlemen so far. I can turn my back on the one in my avatar without worry.

 

[Painted Calls]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Painted Calls]

 

[3KillerBs]

So far he's been really good--but he has started to approach me more and stare at me. Being new to cockerels/roosters, I'm not entirely sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

It could be the first sign of a potential issue or it could be nothing.

One thing to do is to make a practice of "walking through" him. No challenging or chasing him, but just walking straight through the place where he's standing and forcing him to move as you go about your mysterious business as The Giant Who Brings Food (who is not a part of the flock anymore than a horse or a cow would be).

I actually keep some random buckets and other pieces of loose equipment in the coop/run that I can pick up and move just so I can walk though my males -- forcing them to step aside for me.

I don't try to stare them down or in any way indicate challenge. I am a force of nature beyond a mere chicken's comprehension. But I do talk to them the entire time while I'm moving through the coop doing things.

 

[CrazyChicken360]

Welcome to BYC! I think he is also a cockerel

 

[infinitepizza]

Are those feathers on his feet, or is it just a loose feather that happened to get stuck? Makes a difference because Australorps don't have feathered feet.

It's a feather that got stuck. He definitely doesn't have feathers on the feet.

 

[infinitepizza]

Welcome to BYC!

Thank you and thank you!

 

[infinitepizza]

Welcome to BYC! I think he is also a cockerel

Thanks, I do too, but I was hopeful they sent me the wrong breed or something lol.