Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[heather_hedgehog]

Hoping someone can help!

 

The other day my husband mentioned that he thought someone in the neighbourhood had a cockerel as he heard it crowing... This morning I heard it too and it came from my Polish chicken 'Mabel' as I let her out of the hen house this morning.

 

How do you tell if a Polish is a boy or girl? Also I've become rather fond of 'her'. If she is a boy is it ok to keep her with my Goldline and Faverolles hens? (I only have 3 chickens) I don't want to end up with fertilised eggs for breakfast!

 

Any help appreciated!

 

Thank you

[mullethunter]

Can't help with the gender identity crisis I'm afraid, but as far as the eggs are concerned, they'll be fine as long as you don't find a stash hidden away!

[jimnpaula]

Best thing is to upload photos somewhere like photobucket and then post the links here. That way we can all look at the feather shapes, leg thickness, wattles, spurs etc for clues to help you.

 

Q: It was definitely a crow and not some other (egg announcing?) noise?

 

You can eat fertilized eggs, they won't taste or cook any differently. The problem with keeping cockerels is usually that the neighbours don't appreciate the crowing, which can happen at all times of the day not just in the morning. Also, with only 2 ladies they might suffer from excess male 'attention', most likely skin injuries to their backs from his spurs.

[Cat tails]

Don't Polish cockerels have very long sweeping tail feathers? Like not to miss long?

How old is 'Mabel'? If she is long past point of lay, she should have these very long tail feathers, if she is in fact a he...

[heather_hedgehog]

She does have lovely tail feathers and elaborate head feathers but I thought that was normal. In fact I had to trim the hair do a little last week as 'she' couldn't see!

 

There is a red lumpy bit on top of her head, again I thought this normal. I got her at the beginning of Autumn so if it is a girl I was hoping for eggs soon... May explain the crowing as he is coming to maturity? Is that when they start cock-a-doodle-doing??

 

Worried if she is a he as I only have 2 other hens, but they are larger...

 

Will try and find a way of showing images when back from work!

 

Thanks for all your help.

[Chickabee]

Happened to me. I had a beautiful Poland called cleopatra. One day I thought I heard her crow. Her head feathers turned spikey, yes she was a he. Confirmed by my omlet friends. Upload a picture and you'll soon have your answer

[heather_hedgehog]

So what happened Chickabee? Did you keep him?

Here are some pics of Mabel, any thoughts on whether she is in fact a he appreciated - not done this before so hope it works:

[heather_hedgehog]

Trying again:

http://s952.photobucket.com/user/heather_hedgehog/library/

[Cat tails]

 

Here you go!

 

Edit: his tail didn't fit, so made it into a thumbnail.

Edited February 23, 2016 by Guest

[jimnpaula]

Beat me to it! I'm afraid that looks like a male to me Thin pointy neck (cloak-like) and head feathers, and sweeping saddle/lower back feathers, and longer curving tail feathers.

Edited February 23, 2016 by Guest

[Cat tails]

 

My very non expert eye says he is a cockerel... But as I said, I'm absolutely not an expert...

[heather_hedgehog]

Oh no, it's looking likely Mabel has changed sex!!

 

Now what to do?? (Nothing until I am certain) I don't really want a cockerel with my 2 girls and I only have an eglu go so can't buy a much larger hareem for him!

 

He is such a sweet little thing and so pretty, hopefully someone will want him... Where is best to advertise, I'd want him to go to a good home.

 

(By the way how do you get the image to post on the forum page instead of the link?)

[Chickabee]

It's a boy, I'm pretty sure of that

[Cat tails]

 

(By the way how do you get the image to post on the forum page instead of the link?)

 

Photobucket has different links that look something like: [url€€=http://s869.photobucket.com/user/pmsnel/media/image.jpg2_zpsyajnlnhm.jpg.html][img€€]http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab254/pmsnel/image.jpg2_zpsyajnlnhm.jpg[/€€img][/€€URL]

 

But then without the € signs. (If you remove those, you get the image)

[heather_hedgehog]

Thank you Cat tails, I will remember that for next time!

 

I am now looking into whether any of my local friends knows of a good home for him.

 

So sad

[Cat tails]

Did you get him as a hen from a breeder? As in guaranteed: here you have your hen, happy egg collecting?

If so, you might want to see if the breeder takes him back. He might have use for him to make more Malcolms and Mabels in the future.

[heather_hedgehog]

Cat tails I have contacted the breeder but she is an hour and a half away...

 

Need to see what she says, I have also had another kind offer of taking him but they are not local either. I would rather he went to a good home though so at least I have options.

 

Now to plan the hens I will get to replace him...! (Definitely not from the same breeder!)

[newcountrygirl]

Definately a cockerel. My friend had one she thought was female. It literally turned into a cockerel overnight.

[Chortle Chook]

Yep Mabel is a Mark. The Poland males can mature quite late. A punky hair do however, in place of a neat bob, is a sure sign of a boy. However he would be fine with your two girls - eggs are fine too until they are sat on by the hen as they don't start developing till then (otherwise the clutch would all hatch at different times and the hen would not be able to look after her young).

 

I had a lovely male Poland which I took back to the breeder - That was about 3 years ago and I still regret doing so. I expect that he got sold off as the unwanted part of a trio and I often wonder about it. He was such a very sweet natured boy, and unlike Pekins or Silkies he had a nice crow - not a strangled cat noise or high pitched squeak but a real crow.

[heather_hedgehog]

He does have a nice quiet crow! We can't hear it in our house but our garden is quite long and the hen house is at the bottom... bless him, he is a sweetie!

[Grandmashazzie]

I too have a he that was supposed to be a she! He is a silver laced Wyandotte, very handsome. We are waiting until the neighbours complain,which I think will be soon with the light mornings.

[Egluntyne]

Definitely a male.

[heather_hedgehog]

Grandmashazzie I am glad I am not the only one!

I have managed to find him a good home with a lady who has other Polish hens only half an hour away from me. She's coming to collect Malcolm on Wednesday which will be sad but it's for the best!

I found his new home on Facebook's 'Cockerel Trader' - highly recommended!