BeckyBoo Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 ... I hate to ask this because I'm going to look like a complete idiot, but how do you tell, just from looking, which is a cockerel and which is a hen? I'm asking because our exchequer leghorn has a bright red comb, red bits on his / her cheeks, the tail is very "up" and he / she is strutting about the place, bossing the others about, and generally not being very lady like. You can tell I'm new to this - the guy at the poultry breeders who actually caught them for us was from the Czech republic, spoke hardly any English (he was quite nice actually! ) but I don't think he actually knew about chickens, was probably working for 50p a day doing all the rubbish jobs. Anyway, haven't heard any actual cock-a-doodle-do's but to be honest, don't want to either!! can't believe I'm actually going to post this........ Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Sorry I can't help but I am just as much of an idiot as you!!! At one point when I was down to only one chicken and she became broody I thought to avoid the introduction horrors I would put a fertilized egg under her. It worked and we had the sweetest chick and it was only when it started to crow that I realised it was a cockerel. It did not start crowing for ages and when it did it was really funny to begin with as it was like a boy's voice breaking. It kept cracking and then going a bit ho"Ooops, word censored!". It got better though and ended up crowing from pre-dawn til dusk Then when it was about a year old it became amazingly aggressive and even stopped the hen coming near us. He was a real bully and in the end he had to go as we could not go near him and feeding them became a real problem. I had huge bruises all over my legs! So all I can say is it will become increasingly obvious if it is a cockerel!!! (I don't think they all get aggressive) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I am very new to all this myself, but I hope this bit of book research will help. I have looked at pages 94, 150 and 152 of "The Complete Encyclopedia of Chickens" for you. From 3 months males start to crow and they develop their sexual characteristics. They start chasing their sisters at this age. The tail feathers seems to be much more elongated, they have a much enlarged comb and wattle. The ears seem more pronounced too. Has it got spurs yet? I guess this will be the easiest way as it grows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Why not post some pictures Mrs B. Cockerels have bigger combs and wattles, and bigger feet and a more blokish build. They also have spurs on their legs. They crow too! Throw something up into the air to startle them....generally cockerels will look upwards and hens will crouch (but not always!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 There is something about the shape of the ends of the feathers one is rounded and one is more pointed but I can't remember which way round I thought my Betty was a boy for a while as she was the same with her much redder comb than Wilma but Wilma caught up and they both have enormous red combs (white leghorns) which flop right over They were both hatched on the same day but Wilma took a little longer to mature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 Right I threw something in the air and they all ran away! I don't think s/he has spurs her legs look the same as the others, but if you look at the last three piccys on my album, her tail is really really pointy and upright whereas my others all have "rounded" bottoms. (when did I start writing about the shape of chickens bottoms? what has happened to me?! ) Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 how do you put pictures on this bit then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 There is something about the shape of the ends of the feathers one is rounded and one is more pointed but I can't remember which way round Put something dark behind the tips of the wing feathers. If theyre U shaped then its a girly and V shaped its a male. I did this with Frankie without being told which is which and fingers crossed its a female. Not 100% accurate but apparently is about 80% And its not a thick question I wouldnt really have a clue either. Liek you and others I would have suspicions but how to tell until it crows or lays an egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 how do you put pictures on this bit then? Get yourself a ....Photobucket.... account and upload your pictures to it. Straightforward and free. Copy the "" code that you will find for each picture and paste it here. Dead easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 19, 2007 Author Share Posted June 19, 2007 Thanx Egluntine, I've done that bit - even managed to make an album, but how do you get pictures to appear in the post - like Dilly did of her cube, and Fee etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 on your picture in your account right click, properties, then copy(control c) all the bit that is shown next to address URL when you are posting you'll see a tab above that says img, paste it after that with no spaces hope that makes sense Im sure its been explained much clearer somwhere else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 When you are in photobucket look at the properites. Copy the address URL(right mouse click easiest). In the post reply box here write your post. Where you want the photo Click on "Img " in a little box above the typing area. Paste your adress URL. Then click on Img again (it now has an asterix on it). Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Sorry to butt in Bronze we both must have heard the cry for help at the same time. You also must type faster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Yours is much clearer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Mrs Bertie, i'm glad you asked that question because I had wondered that too ! I have worked it out now because the baby chickens (now 3 months) we've got, include cockerels and i've noticed that the cockerels fluff their necks up and try and pick a fight. Will have to separate them soon though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I started reading this thread with interest as I have to 12 week pulletts and I am now filled with FEAR. I am a bit suspicious of 1 as "her" tail is a little diferent from the other pullett. Over the last couple of days they have started to fluff up and do a kind of face off to each other, no touching just dancing ! A cockeral would not bother me but would bother my neighbours....Its just that in a few weeks we have all come to love her, so I cant think of my garden without her . I will try the feather thing tonight. At what age to cockerals start erm.........you know what with the hens. I think I need to get a book ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 I At what age to cockerals start erm.........you know what with the hens. I think I need to get a book ! According to my book....from around 7 months.......increasing gradually ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
