stehaggan Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 (edited) My light sussex hen has grown, her comb and wattle a vibrant red and a nice White/cream pullet size egg has been being laid for the past week. Well today I saw her on one of my other hens back then another for about 4 seconds. I'm convinced it's her laying as the only other possibility is my rhode island red but her comb hasn't really grown and aret there eggs a darker brown? The sussex is actually near the bottom of the pecking order and actually tries to avoid the other girls most of the time. She has very long legs but non of those claw things an she doesn't crow so can she be a boy and how can I be sure? I've contemplated segregating her to see if I do get an egg but I just don't know! Edited February 23, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Can you get us a pic? A RIR lays a pretty standard tinted to light brown egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 (edited) Crikey - This sounds familiar. I had exactly the same thing recently with, believe it or not, a Light Sussex hen. Same sort of scenario too - reddened up lovely and I thought she was laying, and then the one morning IT burst out of the hen house and 'boinked' a number of hens in succession. Yes it was a cockerel - No crowing but long sturdy legs and a penchant for the ladies!! This is her, sorry Him! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089634&id=1037287477&l=b36485c6ca Dawn x Edited February 12, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Oh no I'm gutted if she is a he I will take a photo tomorrow in the light. I think I may have to try the segregation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Oh no I'm gutted if she is a he I will take a photo tomorrow in the light. I think I may have to try the segregation. Do both..........only way to be sure.............fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I have a light Sussex hen who was 'mating' with one or two of my other hens. She definitely is a girl and lays eggs. I was told that it's a pecking order thing and can happen in flocks where there is no cockerel. Saronne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I have a hen that has never laid (got her as POL a year ago) she has a lovely red comb etc but occasionally 'jumps' the other hens even though she is in the middle of the pecking order. She is definitely a hen. Also just last week I had a female duck showing male behaviour too. I think it is just some sort of spring fever and a lack of a male thing like others have suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I often refer to Mildred one of my 3 Columbines as being half male as she leaps onto the backs of certain hens. She lays pastel green eggs so defo a hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 My top hen regularly flattens the other girls. It's a dominance show as I don't have a cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Here "she" is!! She has a large comb and wattles which has sprouted up in the past few weeks from nothing and she has very long legs! The bits of brown on her are remaining from anti-peck spray from a while ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 She looks a lot like my LS hen...so I'd say she was a girl. Others may disagree? Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Those hackle feathers are a little pointy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 thats a cockerel i thinks tell by tail and the neck feathers i have sussex cock look very alike but thats pushing my neck out could look a bit silly if im wrong ps sorry sarrone my fellow leicestershireian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Don't worry- I'm not sure myself. Only know what my butch-girl LS looks like- and that she lays eggs. Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 Ooo a mixed bag there lol I will have to keep an eye on "her" I think. If it's a boy would it get those claws on it's legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'm going for a girl - fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 No help here I'm afraid, the front looks male the rear female = a cocken or henrele! Time or someone more familiar with the breed will tell fingers crossed for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'd say girl, she looks just like Flora. One of my ex batts who is very dominant was standing on one of the smaller girls backs the other day. I think its just a dominance thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 the suspense cant wait till we find out !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 How long from spot to spur? Looking at her legsthere is definitely a little lump startin to form on each leg on the inside only very minimal ATM but definitely wasn't there a few days ago I'm gutted The rehoming venture begins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Girls can get small spurs I'm on the fence with the photo too Wait until you get an egg or a crow for your answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 ITS A BOY!!!!! Just to let you know he is a boy! I can't believe how quickly his features came out once started, his comb and wattles and spurs he has even started crowing. Well i am very gutted as he is our favourite but we aren't allowed to keep a cockerel. I had lots of offers from fellow allotmenteers for them to take him home for dinner but i couldn't allow that and I persevered and found him a great new home. He is going to a chicken shelter in Middleton, I have just been on the phone to the lady now - she is very nice and I think I actually want to go and live there with Meringue lol. She has 100 hens and 27 other cockerels, loads of dogs, rabbits, cats, pigs etc so meringue will have a nice life there which I am really really pleased with and I feel a lot happier knowing that he will have a nice life. I am dropping him off a week on friday before we go away so I will take some piccies of our beautiful boy before he goes . Thanks for all your help guys x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Aww im gutted for you Ste, it is very upsetting when all this time you thought he was she But very well done on finding him what sounds like its going to be a lovely new home Im sure he will be very happy there. Hugs to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Awwww sorry to hear that. I haven't been on for a while, and I was just going to ask for a photo of his/her tail as that curly top feather is a dead give away in sussex males.........I have found that out the hard way too . Glad to hear he is going to such a lovely place . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Sorry. At least you know for certain and have been fortunate to find him a great home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
