When is it obvious you've got a rooster?

[silversage03]

I have RIRs, Australorps, and SLWs. The RIRs and SLWs are supposed to be pullets, and the Australorps are straight run. They're between 1.5 and 4 weeks old now. Are there any tell-tale signs that would make it more obvious?

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

When they make this horrible, stangling noise that sounds somewhat like a crow.

Sometimes you can tell by combs and wattles and feather type and all that, but truthfully, I never believe it until either the chicken crows or pops out an egg. I've had a couple that had me fooled!

 

[Sock Puppet]

the minute it crows

thats when I knew my RIR was a roo, I just thought it was a really pretty hen, oops.

My first time having chickens

 

[cimarron]

you might have to wait a bit...our australorp "pullet" started making that adorable strangling sound at about 9 weeks. he also had a very pronounced comb and wattles. now he lives on a jesus farm with a bunch of goats. he could have done worse.

 

[neversaychick]

I am very new at this, but we ordered 20 pullets and 4 roos (RIR). I have 4 chicks without tail feathers at 2 weeks and those four also have lighter colored wings. They are also the ones who like to climb on top of the waterer. I think those are my roos. The biggest clue being no tail feathers where the others have a bunch.

 

[silversage03]

Well, this should be an interesting wait! Hopefully I have NO roos, but only time will tell!

 

[reveriereptile]

It is sometimes hard to tell. I usually go by the comb size and the feather growth. They can be tricky though. I have a BLR Wyandotte that is almost a year old and has to be a rooster since it has the pointed feathers near the tail and it has never crowed yet. It acts more like a hen except when it was a chick and bit me. I wonder if he thinks he is a lady.

 

[fzouk]

Interesting about the lack of tail feathers! Mine are 6 days old and there are a couple that peep with purpose, it's a clearer more ringing kind of cheep. Do you think that might mean something or are they just accidentally hitting a frequency that carries better? I got a straight run because I do want a rooster or two (I have 20 total) but I hope I don't have lots of roosters- I knew that would be a risk when I ordered though!

Frances

 

[Omran]

Quote:
I agree 100% because that what I was reading just yesterday, I have 26 pullets right now and I am praying not to have any rooster among them.

Omran

 

[gritsar]

With alot of breeds, the secondary sex characteristics start showing themselves at 4 to 6 weeks old. Another clue can be the differences in feathering out, as already noted.
I used this as my guide and was able to tell my brahma boys from my brahma girls at 5 weeks old:

According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.
2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb – The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs – The cockerel’s legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail – The cockerel’s tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back – The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop – The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows – In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers.

**Keep in mind that I was comparing chicks of the same breed and not apples to oranges, so to speak.