Wanted Please - Harrogate / York / Leeds area

[gargan]

Hello,

 

This is my first post in this great forum. I have five chickens: two are laying (around 22 weeks old) and three are around 15 weeks.

 

I bought the younger ones together and according to the breeder they were all the same age, minus/plus few days. As you can see from the pictures, the Amber and the Maran look like they are the same age and both look girlish to me. The Nera, however, has developed an impressive comb and wattles in the past week. And I am of course wondering whether this one is not a boy! Can any one with more experience help out. Many thanks for your help.

 

 

 

 

[Egluntyne]

I fear you might be right, those hackle feathers look very pointed, which is an indicator.

 

On the other hand, there doesn't seem to be much going on in the tail department. Yet.

[gargan]

Good Morning,

 

I fear you might be right, those hackle feathers look very pointed, which is an indicator.

 

No, no fear please I would love for this one to be a cockerel! I grew up with chickens and we always had more than one cockerel. IMHO, no flock is complete without a cockerel.

One of our neighbours have a cockerel and the neighbours seem to be comfortable with it. Our immediate neighbours have chickens too and wouldn't mind a cockerel either. And our chickens live at the end of the garden, which is 40 m away from any houses. So I hope that this one will turn out to be a cockerel and that we can keep him. My 3 year old son is very excited and wants a cockerel too. He thinks that it will defend the chickens against the fox

 

On the other hand, there doesn't seem to be much going on in the tail department. Yet.

 

Yes, the tail is the only part of HIS body that makes me wonder if I am reading all the signs right.

[Chucky Mama]

Well it's great that you don't mind either way He/she is really beautiful/handsome - I am leaning towards the He opiton.

[Egluntyne]

Am glad it isn't a problem for you.

[gargan]

Thanks! It's good to know that others think similarly. His/Her feathers are far more shinier than the other two's. I suppose there is still time for the tail feathers to develop. Let's see! I will post updates.

[craftyhunnypie]

I can see why you wondered but yay! respect for the male of the species! Good on you!

 

Emma.x

[Redwing]

Its a hybrid right? If its a boy it shouldnt have got through the system as they are identifiable on hatching

 

It does look like a boy though, look at those rugby player legs!

[gargan]

Its a hybrid right? If its a boy it shouldnt have got through the system as they are identifiable on hatching

 

Yes, it's a hybrid and it's supposed to be sex-linked. So, if it's a boy, it probably got through by mistake.

 

I don't think I have ever seen or found pictures of a Nera cockerel. So I don't know how they are supposed to look like, how soon they develop their comb and wattles... Are Nera cockerel's supposed to have a white dot on their head like some other cockerels...?

Edited June 6, 2010 by Guest

[jennydavies]

When we found out that Blanche was really Raymond, his tail feathers looked more "girlie" - do the long curved tails develop later ??

[Redwing]

usually yes, my show cockerel is a year old and only just has a full tail, the sickle feathers (swoop down either side of the tail) are normally visible quicker

[jennydavies]

We saw Raymond yesterday with "his ladies" and two weeks on from rehoming and he is looking very handsome, he now has that lovely upright stance and came trotting over to the fence when he heard my voice, his face furniture is coming on lovely too, I am very proud of him I hope he always remembers me

[gargan]

This morning the young Nera laid a small but well-formed egg. I guess that answers the question.

[Egluntyne]

Phew.