Wyandotte roo or hen?

[tuesdaylove]

Hey y'all!

I posted almost a month ago inquiring about the breeds and genders of my newest chickens. Since then, I've lost one, three are almost definite pullets and doing well, and there's one that I'm thinking may be a boy. My mom has seen this Wyandotte stretching out its neck and making a sound "like it's trying to crow," in her own words. I personally have not heard it yet, so I can't myself describe what the noise is like. This bird is growing a little faster than the others, has much more comb/wattle growth, and is chasing around and trying to fight the others.

I don't know the exact ages, but my best estimate is that the Wyandotte is now 4-5 months old.

Here's a photo of him/her from about a week ago:

For comparison, this is the Wyandotte almost a month ago, when it first came home:

I don't have any current group photos, but here it is with the others when they first came home. The Wyandotte is the same age as the two red birds; the EE is about a month younger.

I've had my suspicions and I'm very afraid he's a little guy. I just want to get some second opinions, because if he is, he'll be going back to the farm he came from next weekend. I sadly cannot keep any more roosters.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Evelyn Walker]

It's a cockerel, I'm afraid.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Blue is one of my favorite chicken colors.

I can't make it out real well, but I think I am seeing pointy saddle feathers, meaning cockerel. A standing side shot would be helpful for confirmation....

 

[tuesdaylove]

I just went out and got some new pictures of them. Sorry for the lowish quality; I don't have my camera handy, so I had to use my phone. I tried to get a good side photo and some different angles. I got a couple with the hens in the shot for comparison.

(Also, please don't mind the terribly filthy ground - they're getting a deep layer of pine shavings today! This pen was full of grass when they arrived and they ate it all down.)

 

[AAchicks]

I'm guessing pullet that is close to laying. By 4-5 months old, you would see more obvious saddle feathers.

 

[tuesdaylove]

I'm guessing pullet that is close to laying. By 4-5 months old, you would see more obvious saddle feathers.

I agree, there are no obvious roostery feathers, but the bird is crowing... Just seems so suspicious.

 

[AAchicks]

I agree, there are no obvious roostery feathers, but the bird is crowing... Just seems so suspicious.

I missed the part where it is crowing! Lol, that wouldn't be good for a pullet! On the back where the saddle feathers would be, can you part the feathers and see if you see pointy ones coming in? Maybe they are just really slow?

 

[AAchicks]

And now that I look at the pics a little closer, I do see dark bars on the wings in the recent pics, which would indicate roo.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That there's a cockerel, I can see the pointy saddles JUST starting to come in. Look at the dark blue ones. Plus he's got some good size legs... and hens might... but pullets don't usually "crow".

He's gonna be quite handsome as he matures.

He'd also be tasty!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Cockerel