geb0205 Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I got 2 gold pencilled hamburghs (youngsters) about 4 weeks ago. Well, one is 15 weeks, and the other around 12/13 weeks. The older one, I seem to be convinced its a cockerel for some reason. They have rose combs, but its comb is MUCH brighter than the other, younger one, and it stands up higher. Apart from the old "if it crows, its a cockerel" how can I tell? Do they all crow spurs on the back of their legs? and if so, what age do they begin to appear? The littler one, I am sure, is a hen, and apart from the older one being slightly bigger and having a redder comb, there really is no difference.. panicing? me?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 First of all dont panic, can you post a piccie for us? The male have much bigger combs and wattels Their tail feathers seem to be much bigger and longer They strut rather than walk, with their head high. i'll try and find more info, just give me a minute..... xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 I cant really tell you anything else sorry. If you are worried about the comb shape, both male and female have rose combs. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted August 16, 2007 Author Share Posted August 16, 2007 See, they both like to stand on tiptoe and look round, then they crouch down and run about! I suppose it does strut a little, but then, so does the other at times. I already have a silver spangled hamburg, and her comb took AGES to grow, it only stopped forming at about 1 year of age (they are just over 1). But then, she has long legs and very little "frilly knickers" fluff, like the littlies. Just went to get some piccies, but the camera batteries died! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 My friend's cockrels strut ALL the time - unless they are eating, drinking or entertaining. They are very "full of themselves" as my Mum would say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 Mine started to do what comes naturally from a very young age, which is another way to tell... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 We have a leghorn we were convinced was a boy - strutted, held her tail high, just was generally loutish, then she laid 3 eggs! Someone on here told me something about their wing feathers being pointy not rounded or was it the other way round...? Not much help there, I'll see if I can find the original post! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 their tails start to grow around that kind of age too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 Sounds like most men The Pearsons. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 18, 2007 Share Posted August 18, 2007 quote: "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%" That's what I was told. Hope it helps! Also throw something into the air - cockerels will look up but hens will crouch (mine all ran away!) Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted August 19, 2007 Author Share Posted August 19, 2007 Thanks folks... I am still wondering. It has a little dot on the inside of its legs, that looks like it could be a bud for a spur, but then, so does the other one which I think is a hen... or prehapse they are both cockerels!! Ohhh, I am trying not to get too attached to them, but I cant help wondering if it is a cockerel. What age do they start crowing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 Our cockerels start crowing at about the same age as a hen starts laying - or becoming POL - around 18/20 weeks. We can usually tell before that when the saddle feathers start to grow, just in front of the tail feathers, the tail feathers grow longer and they usually have much longer legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 My chickens do have a "dot" where a spur would be. One chicken coming into lay earlier would have a redder/bigger comb. No practical experience of cockerals though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
