Must be mad Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 The question my sound silly but I have a light sussex that I bought at 15 weeks and it was believed to be a hen. She is now 26 weeks and she/he does look half like a cockrel. Wyvern (son named her after a dragon!!! ) has a large comb and the black feathers around the neck are long a pointed, I believe that the hens feathers are more rounded, but the tail feathers are small like a hens and not upright like the images of cockrels I have seen. Wyvern is much larger than all my other hens and does seem to be the leader (I am trying to put a photo on!!!) . We have seen Wyvern climbing onto the back of the other hens and occasionally pull feathers from the necks at the sametime. Is there a picture on any forum that I can compare to until I am able to add a photo? I am sorry that there is no photo at the moment and also the fact that it is probably a silly question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 not a silly question at all! The pointy feathers and the fact that at 26 weeks you havent had an egg could possibly mean cockerel (or then again a late developing hen ) We are also waiting to see if our newbies are male or female. We'll shall wait for the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Here is my light sussex hen who is now laying... And here is a cockerel... Behavior does sound like a boy Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Must be mad Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Looking at the photos he looks more like the cockrel with the bum of a hen. He does not have any big tail feathers to speak of. My sons description is that her tail is flat!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigChick Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 This is my boy not long after I got him... ...and this is him now. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 My cream legbar is well over 26 weeks and hasnt laid yet, so I wouldnt worry too much about that..... perhaps you could post a picture of your light sussex, so that people could judge??? hope she's a girl for you...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I think I would have to say it's a boy and a very handsome one at that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 did I miss the photo??? I've looked three times now....but I may well have .......goodness not another senior moment for me????? ......I had one last week !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I can't see it either. Just examples of other hens/cockerels for comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 ahh..thats a relief, after my skirt wearing-inside out incident last week, and not being able to find the attachment, attached to a document at work today ...I was starting to worry LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Here's one of my Light Sussex boys.........only about 12 weeks in this pic. Not a good view of the tail feathers but you can see the saddle feathers starting to droop already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 ahh..thats a relief, after my skirt wearing-inside out incident last week, and not being able to find the attachment, attached to a document at work today ...I was starting to worry LOL A rite of passage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Must be mad Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Ok here we go, I am going to try and put a few pictures of Wyvern for you to see him/her! Wyvern when we bought her at 10 weeks (end of Oct) Wyvern today I hope this works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 What a beautiful chicken Definitely a male though, sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Lovely big boy.........I had an Orp, sexed (by me ) as a female. Her feathers changed dramatically at 24/25 weeks, comb got much bigger, then crowed at 29 weeks. Occasionally chickens do 'change sex' and don't show their definite male/female characteristics till much later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Must be mad Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Thank you everyone, sorru it took me so long to put photos on. Over the last couple of weeks, I had a feeling that she was actually a he. I keep 'him' in a cube with other hens in a walk in run. Is there any reason that he would need to be separated at all. I know that you can eat fertilised eggs so I can not see there being a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleBoPeep Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 We have a black sussex (Henry) who we hatched. Very similar, especially the large comb. He is strutting around the garden and sort of thuds on his feet around the girls. They are great fun to watch and as yet not complaints about noise etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 He is a very beautiful boy though isn't he. If you haven't got any neighbours to complain then can you keep him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Must be mad Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 We do have neighbours, my closest neighbour loves our chickens, but I am going to explain the situation and ask him to let us know if it gets to noisy. Wyvern has not made any sound yet but I await that pleasure. I love watching him in the garden and would really upset if he had to go, but only time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I have just read this convo and I have to say found it rather amusing Wyvern has a beautiful face although I would say he was a boy just with small tail feathers (...everyone already said that but I thought I would stick my pennys worth in anyway! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 What a gorgeous chicken! Deffinatly male looking tho! My girl light sussex doesnt look like yours sorry...but my boy chucks (altho not sussexs) did. Hope you get to keep it whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Must be mad Posted February 8, 2009 Author Share Posted February 8, 2009 Thanks to everyone who confirmed what I think I already knew. Will mark the day he makes his first sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 We do have neighbours, my closest neighbour loves our chickens, but I am going to explain the situation and ask him to let us know if it gets to noisy. Wyvern has not made any sound yet but I await that pleasure. I love watching him in the garden and would really upset if he had to go, but only time will tell. Fingers crossed that if he is a boy, he's not too loud for yor neighbours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 whatever your chicken is...and I'll ahve to bow to those more in the know.... its a gorgeous bird....and I'd have wondered too...as he doesnt have male tail feathers....or seem to yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosieglow Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hello. Funnily enough I am having the same problem. I have had my light sussex for just over a week now, having returned Souixie Souix (or Souixie Stu as he is now known), my black silkie back to the same breeder. I think I have been sold another Cockerel! I was told the White Sussex was 20 weeks old and is in lay, but I've had no eggs yet. It has also been making some peculiar noises as if it is trying to crow, but could it just be a noisy hen? Here are some pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
