Abbsie Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 How do you tell if it is a cockerel or a hen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Depends on its age and breed. If they are mature, the cockerel will crow....all day long, and the hens will lay eggs. Cockerels tend to be heftier, with much bigger wattles and combs and a more elaborate tail. The hackle feathers will be pointed too instead of round at the ends. Some breeds are easily distinguised as the plumage and colours are different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbsie Posted August 9, 2008 Author Share Posted August 9, 2008 Depends on its age and breed. If they are mature, the cockerel will crow....all day long, and the hens will lay eggs. Cockerels tend to be heftier, with much bigger wattles and combs and a more elaborate tail. The hackle feathers will be pointed too instead of round at the ends. Some breeds are easily distinguised as the plumage and colours are different. It is approx 14 weeks old, has no comb yet but is much larger than the other hen of the same age with much bigger legs. What age will it become clearer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 What breed is it? Can you post a picture to help? It all depends on the breed, some take up to 2 years to mature properly, most others mature between 18 and 30 weeks. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 It is approx 14 weeks old, has no comb yet but is much larger than the other hen of the same age with much bigger legs. What age will it become clearer Sounds as she might just be a he. Can you post a picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Sounds like a he to me going off the leg description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Don't lose hope yet. My Cobar has legs like tree-trunks, and I was sure she was a boy until she started laying eggs. The comb and wattles are a good sign: are they bigger than those of the others? (I think I have a Blue Cochin boy: her comb and wattles are too big for an eight-week-old.) A picture would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Aphrodite has big thick legs too and she's definitely a girlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I note from your sig that you have a legbar and two hybrids. Legbars and hybrids from a reputable source are easily sexed as chicks, so very unlikely (but not entirely impossible!) for you to have a cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...