tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post3077570797841912653..comments2024-02-26T01:18:29.634-05:00Comments on Pam's Backyard Chickens: OMG! It's a Roo! How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a RoosterPam Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-86030957501847907162021-05-27T10:55:51.773-04:002021-05-27T10:55:51.773-04:00Hi Deana! At five weeks, it's too early to tel...Hi Deana! At five weeks, it's too early to tell what you've got. I'd keep watching the Leghorn and see how things progress. Around 3 to 4 months of age, you'll have better indicators like the saddle feathers at the base of the tail. Until then, growth patterns can be different for individual birds even of the same breed. Hope this helps!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-9564366167150344872021-05-26T23:32:43.598-04:002021-05-26T23:32:43.598-04:00Hello, I have recently decided to add to my flock ...Hello, I have recently decided to add to my flock and am questioning the sex of my 5 week old supposed pullet. I went to my local tractor supply and picked up 3 Rhode Island reds, and 3 white leghorns. The reds are perfect and growing in sync while on the other hand one of my leghorns has taken off in growth. It has nearly an inch tall crown and wattle that are red, while the others just have their baby crowns. It also seems to be bullying the others, more than the pecking order, but not hurting them (I wouldn’t allow that). I’m looking for any insight. I have a photo but am not sure how to attach it. Thank you in advance. Deanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10920575979682009119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-19369877790336583822021-05-23T07:55:56.619-04:002021-05-23T07:55:56.619-04:00It sounds like you have a wonderful flock! Comb si...It sounds like you have a wonderful flock! Comb size and redness can indicate you have a rooster, but it's not reliable and at 7-weeks old, your birds are just too young to tell. After 3 to 4 months of age, the saddle feathers are the best indicator of a hen or rooster. So, give it some more time and you'll be able to tell. Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-61171525533715744152021-05-22T21:49:03.434-04:002021-05-22T21:49:03.434-04:00I have 6 Rhode island reds and two blue rocks they...I have 6 Rhode island reds and two blue rocks they are 7 weeks old one of the blue rocks has a red comb and is getting red wattle so am thinking it's a roo as the rest have yellow combsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15592190664484958611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-47153700835308917692021-05-22T15:07:13.731-04:002021-05-22T15:07:13.731-04:00Hi Ali! Chickens are kind of like people, they all...Hi Ali! Chickens are kind of like people, they all develop at different rates. I've seen this often, especially between the different breeds in my flock. None of my Orpingtons have had spurs, but many hens will grow spurs. They're often much smaller than a rooster's spurs. In fact, I have 3 Mottled Javas now. One has small spurs, the other two do not. All are the same age. I hope this helps!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-81329519444443027282021-05-22T13:20:14.562-04:002021-05-22T13:20:14.562-04:00Hi Pam, I have 3 Buff Orps and 3 Lavender Orps. I ...Hi Pam, I have 3 Buff Orps and 3 Lavender Orps. I am still learning about these wonderful birds. They are probably about 13 weeks at the most, 10 at the least. Yesterday I was noticing a tiny spot on their legs which I am assuming is a spur spot... Do your hens have this? I also am noticing that in the girls I thought were the oldest, they are just starting to get their waddles, but the one I thought was the youngest developed "hers" awhile ago. Is it common for this breed to develop waddles at different rates? My EEs don't have spurs or waddles, so this is all new to me. Would love to know your experience in Orpington development. Thanks! ~Ali Lexi Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03727889992042777733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-3591794540408880302021-05-13T08:50:06.322-04:002021-05-13T08:50:06.322-04:00At six-weeks-old, it's just too early to tell....At six-weeks-old, it's just too early to tell. I would give them another month or so and then reassess the situation. Around 12-weeks-old, you should have a clear picture. Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-39361267044937254392021-05-12T20:58:25.888-04:002021-05-12T20:58:25.888-04:00I have 4 chicks I got from Tractor Supply. They we...I have 4 chicks I got from Tractor Supply. They were to be sexed chicks and pullets and I found out 3 weeks after getting them they were not what they were marked as and I am not sure what I got yet but they are about 6 weeks old and 3 have rounded looking feathers all over on there wings and 1 has longer pointed feathers all over on wings what does this mean? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12554952107720018146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-80212465634432038152021-05-09T17:14:33.389-04:002021-05-09T17:14:33.389-04:00Hi there! At 6 weeks, it's a little too early ...Hi there! At 6 weeks, it's a little too early to know for sure what you've got. Around 3-months old roosters will develop saddle feathers just in front of the tail. Rooster feathers will be long and pointy where hens will have rounded saddle feathers. That's a safer bet for identification. Until then, what seems aggressive may just be them working out the pecking order. Hope this helps!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-6655870226993566942021-05-07T09:45:26.856-04:002021-05-07T09:45:26.856-04:00I think I have three roos and three hens from Trac...I think I have three roos and three hens from Tractor Supply. Almost all of them seem a big aggressive for 6 weeks old. Maybe I'm not used to pecking order behavior. I don't know about keeping so many roos.... No blood yet.Susnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18401759923643704453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-80769863028684556872021-05-03T19:54:50.662-04:002021-05-03T19:54:50.662-04:00I would wait for a bit longer. Even crowing isn...I would wait for a bit longer. Even crowing isn't the final verdict. While you're waiting, get some plans in place just in case. But don't be too hasty, many have rehomed at the first sound of rooster only to find out later that they gave away a wonderful laying hen. Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-62237244085770591892021-05-03T18:06:26.412-04:002021-05-03T18:06:26.412-04:00I have six 8 week old buff orpingtons. One is eas...I have six 8 week old buff orpingtons. One is easily twice the size of the others, and my friend (farm girl) says it's a roo. I can't have roos where we live (backyard chickens); do I wait for it to sound off to be certain? If it is a roo I'd like to get a re-homing plan in place ahead of time...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00802797237382987376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-583321626137168102021-04-23T12:54:23.572-04:002021-04-23T12:54:23.572-04:00That can be a bit difficult if you have lots of ch...That can be a bit difficult if you have lots of chickens that lay the same color egg. If you've just got one green egg layer or one dark brown egg layer, then it's easy to tell. I spend time with my chickens and start to know who lays what. Also, if you collect eggs in the morning and then find a few chickens in the nest boxes in the afternoon, you can start to narrow it down. It's a process of elimination. Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-33231441816426891182021-04-22T11:36:33.040-04:002021-04-22T11:36:33.040-04:00How do you know which chicken layer which egg?
How do you know which chicken layer which egg?<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16122644500988484731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-60963683510713214092021-02-01T14:14:06.846-05:002021-02-01T14:14:06.846-05:00I think it's important to feed them both a goo...I think it's important to feed them both a good layer feed and kitchen scraps as a treat. The ratio of feed to scraps is 90 to 10. They layer feed is important because it's balanced nutrition for their exact needs. The scraps provide enrichment and entertainment, plus they're a great way to recycle leftovers. I hope this helps! I'm glad you enjoy the blog!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-59903609408938211482021-02-01T14:13:10.180-05:002021-02-01T14:13:10.180-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-77202518381187106432021-02-01T12:56:28.803-05:002021-02-01T12:56:28.803-05:00Have you ever heard that feeding kitchen scraps wi...Have you ever heard that feeding kitchen scraps will cause them to lay fewer eggs vs feeding only their layer feed? Great blog by the way and thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07334811027610594615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-88099352612501309472020-12-31T10:22:29.185-05:002020-12-31T10:22:29.185-05:00I will. Thank youI will. Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-68912919791025865622020-12-28T11:07:29.208-05:002020-12-28T11:07:29.208-05:00I'm glad you'll be keeping them. We got an...I'm glad you'll be keeping them. We got an accidental rooster once and he was wonderful. Since then, I have enjoyed keeping roosters in my flock. Have fun with them!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-70115209870449703282020-12-26T13:52:52.047-05:002020-12-26T13:52:52.047-05:00Thank you it does, I figured out that I have 2 roo...Thank you it does, I figured out that I have 2 rooster, because I saw them crow, we are going to keep them both. 2 out of three of the chicks are roosters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-4063589908695738642020-12-03T17:25:24.484-05:002020-12-03T17:25:24.484-05:00Easter Eggers can be tricky since they are hybrids...Easter Eggers can be tricky since they are hybrids. You won't know for sure until you start hearing crowing and see if he/she is laying. But, in all honesty, I had your exact situation happen with one of my Easter Eggers. It turned out to be a rooster. What I was seeing grow longer on the tail were the main sickle feathers. Hope this helps!Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-59465817758581356202020-12-03T11:39:09.474-05:002020-12-03T11:39:09.474-05:00One of my three chicks also has one tail feather t...One of my three chicks also has one tail feather that is longer than all of their feathers and the other chicks have rounded feathers, The one that has a bigger tail feather is an Easter Egger/Ameraucana and I was wondering if it may be a rooster?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-85875616300620007042020-11-04T11:55:31.309-05:002020-11-04T11:55:31.309-05:00I think it's probably too early to tell. I hav...I think it's probably too early to tell. I have seen difference in comb and wattle size even between the same sex of the same breed. I'd give it some time. Since they are fall chicks, it may take well into the winter or early spring. Pam Freemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098228114064124640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-49127340167504855492020-11-02T09:09:18.996-05:002020-11-02T09:09:18.996-05:00I have 3 chicks and one of them has a huge comb an...I have 3 chicks and one of them has a huge comb and waddles do you think I have a rooster they were all born on September 6th 2020. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1948490333265237249.post-7241031747881690792020-09-20T15:54:56.588-04:002020-09-20T15:54:56.588-04:00Just bought 8 new chicks from our local feed store...Just bought 8 new chicks from our local feed store (we had previously bought 7 and they were all hens as expected). Outer new 8 has one that we arent even sure of the breed because it came out of a brooder with only one breed sign. We named her Ms. Frizzle but I'm almost positive she is really a he. They are still pretty young so it's a waiting game....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414798506774062382noreply@blogger.com