SilverC Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hi, I have a bit of a dilemma. I bought a beautiful Sussex Light pullet to go with my warrens about 8 weeks ago. She was sold as Point of Lay, and was a very meek and mild bird who took a while to settle in with the boisterous warrens. She is fully integrated now and has become rather friendly with humans, though is still quite a bit of aloner with the other birds. However, she has showed no signs of laying and yesterday, she crowed twice at 3.30 in the afternoon. I've had a read round the 'net and a lot of people have said on the web that Sussex birds can get very beautiful combs and wattles which she does have, but 'she' crowed again at 7.3am today, which now makes me think I have a cockerel and not a hen The other hens have never crowed as such, they do make a loud 'Bwarkar' kind of sound if they are frightened, but of course they are a different breed. If she is in fact he, then it's not good news I'm afraid as we are not allowed to keep a cockerel I'm wondering if (and I don't want to state the obvious here),there should be some erm, extra appendages hanging somewhere that will confirm my suspicions? I've had a look in the undercarriage area but it just looks, well, feathery and bare! Sorry for sounding thick, I know nothing about cockerels as you can probably tell. Anyway, attached are a few pics the first few being when we first got her at supposed Point of Lay, and the rest are today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Mmmmm I think she is a boy. I believe the male bits you are looking for are stored internally like ducks and only come out when needed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Sorry but I think she is a cockerel too. Gorgeous though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverC Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 I think you're both right. Gutted Have put the feelers out for a new home for Twiggy Pop, who I suppose should now be renamed Iggy Pop. She/He was my birthday pressie from my other half I've asked him not to get me a goldfish next time....he'll probably come home with a Piranha! Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Looks like a boy to me too. What a shame. Where did you get him from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Did you get her/him from a breeder? If so, I would contact them and ask if they will take him back and replace with a pullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 She does look quite masculine...... It's difficult, the longer you keep her / him, the more attached you will get but what if no-one ever complained? If someone did complain, would pleading ignorance in this situation work I wonder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverC Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hi I got him/her from a garden centre, so they may take her/him back......hadn't thought of that. We def can't keep as we double checked with the council when we first got the girls, and they said it was fine providing we didn't have a cockerel. I'd have pleaded ignorance till the crowing started. Just waiting for a call back from someone who maybe able to take him today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 I would have a word with the garden centre. If they said he was a girl they should take him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Lovely boy. Any retailer worth their salt will take him back - they sold you a hen.. it isn't a hen so they should replace him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Just googled male and female and it does look like a male from the varying pictures I saw but I am new so don't listen to me cockadoodle do on. Sorry couldn't resist that one. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 He's a corker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 It does look like a male now but was doing a pretty good impression of a female when you bought him I'd say take him back, its obviously a genuine mistake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverC Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Hi Thanks everyone. He's going back to the garden centre today. They offered us another bird if we wanted one, but theyonly have young Welsummers in and I don't want to make the same mistake again and get what I think is a hen, get attached, for it to turn out to be a cockerel. My other half asked what will happen and they said the breeder would either keep him if they haven't already got a Sussex cockerel, or he sends them to Chelford Auctions. I just hope they don't just kill him, he is a sweet bird, other than the crowing and looking like a cockerel, you;d never know, he's so placid and tame. Just hope I'm doing the right thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 You are doing the right thing Welsummer are a lot easier to sex so dont be put off the idea completely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billathome65 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I can imagine the phone call. Hello my husband bought me a chicken for my birthday from your store and was told it was female? well hahmmmm Just to let you know it's a cockerel can I have my money back please? Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverC Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Ha ha, were you listening in on the conversation, billathome? Well, all change. Someone told me that the breeder who supply the garden centre would just wring Twiglet's neck, so I spent all yesterday traipsing round every place in the area that kept chickens. I was finally giving up hope, when I stopped at some local allotments, and someone told me that one of the tenants kept cockerels together. The man in question wasn't there however, so we went back today three times, (missed him the first two) and on the third try, he was there. He said his brother had an allotment about 3 miles away and all his hens were Sussex Lights and he was thinking of getting a cockerel. Gave him a call, and yes he'd have him, so he is now installed in his new harem of the same breed. We can visit whenever we like as it's an community allotment that also sells the things they grow etc, so all has ended well for Twiggy - hurrah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Hey fabulous news. You are so lucky, well he is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benaberry Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Glad all ended well - we went through the same thing with two of our original orpingtons, except we'd had them for five months before the crowing started (and had just put the lack of eggs down to the winter), so were well and truly attached. Our two boys went back to their breeder and were swapped for two girls, but heartbreaking - we'd had them from so young I'd been able to spend ages taming them, they were both such lovely, friendly boys Hope Twiglet enjoys his new home with the harem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Well done you for finding him a new home, what a lovely caring thing to do I must admit I was a bit worried about what might happen after you took him back to the garden centre. Make sure that you get a replacement free of charge and that they don't expect you to pay for the boy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Well done for finding a good home for him, it can be difficult to rehome a cockerel. I would get the garden centre to write up an iou so you can go back later when the girls have matured a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppers77 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Hi Silver C, Totally emphasise as all 3 of my light sussex girls last year turned into fellas! Luckily Alan ( guy we bought the whole thing from) replaced them all so i finally got to have 3 girls but i agree they are very handsome birds and so tame and friendly! My husband constantly uses having one as a way of trying to persuade me moving to the countryside! Hope you find a happy solution soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 What a disappointment. He is a handsome specimen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
