Okay, so we know Mario, our Cuckoo Maran chicken is totally a roo. He’s a chunky little monkey, has big feet and a bright red wattle and comb. And he’s feisty! 😉
But now I am beginning to doubt my suspicions about one of our Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. At first I thought the grey one was a roo, but now I’m not so sure.
Yes the comb and wattle are larger and the feather colors are different, BUT the grey one is not at all feisty and has the same sized legs as Snow White {our other Blue Laced Red Wyandotte}. Maybe it’s just the thought of having to get rid of two roos that is making me question this chickens gender, but I really, really don’t want to have to get rid of Prime Charming. He/she is such a sweet bird.
Luckily we know our Araucana chicks, Anne Hathaway and Chippy, are girls for sure. They are both so quite and love to be held. Did I mention they’re a little on the shy side too?
Our Mottled Java’s are another story. One of them {Espresso} is a handful. She bolts every time I let her roam free. She’ll be going to Girly Girls house. 😉 And Jabba the Hut, our other mottled java chick, has turned out to be a total love bug.
As soon as she sees me or The Girl, she runs to the side of the chicken run and patiently waits to be picked up. She’s also quite fond of sitting on my shoulder.
And then last but not least, there is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, our Buff Orpington. Another total love bug. We will be keeping her too.
Raising backyard chickens as pets {so you can steal their eggs} is cool, but when it comes time to give away to roos, it’s hard. Especially if they are nice ones. ;(
What do you think? Is our grey blue laced red wyandotte is a roo, or a hen?
~Mavis
If you are thinking about getting chicks next spring be sure and check out my How to Care for Baby Chicks tutorial for some helpful tips.
krista says
that sucks you cant have roo’s in your area. there’s tons in mine, about a 5 block radius there’s a good 6 or 7 roos, when one goes off in the morning they all do a chain reaction, kinda funny to hear, then they get all the dogs going.
rachel whetzel says
I have a very good roo choosing rate, and in my experience, if you don’t see pointy feathers in the hackle or saddle area, you have a hen. There are TONS of other “things” to look for, (like combs, etc.) but from all I’ve seen, it’s the feathers that do you in. I don’t see ANY feathers in the photos you shared that look like the pointed roo feathers are coming in, so I would say that you’ve got hens.
Sabina says
My guess is a girl. No pointy hackle feathers and no saddle feathers that I can see.
Cecily says
Look at a picture of a rooster from the side. See those pointed feathers at the base of the tail? If your chickens have those then they are boys, if not, they are girls. As they get older those feathers will become more prominent. Hope this helps.
Jamie Mccorkle says
Do no be too quick to judge a Wyandotte! Even seasoned breeders can be wrong with them, they thought my black girl was a roo until “she” laid her first egg!
Lauren says
Out of curiosity, how often do you replace your hens? I have generally replaced them after three years, but the chickens we got when we moved here two years ago have already slowed down so much, they are basically just sucking food without “paying rent”. They’re cute and all, but… Seems like they aren’t laying as well here in IA as they did in OR. Maybe it’s the cold winters?
Pam Lyon says
Both the Wyandottes are hens! Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are pretty easy to sex once the adult feathers come in. Males will have red on the neck (it will be pronounced) and saddle areas that look different from the red on the wings.
Deb says
I’d wait to see if he/she cockododdledoos!
Nichole says
Mavis – what type of chicken would you say has been the quietest for you so far?
Mavis Butterfield says
Black Australorp hands down. 🙂
Matthew says
I’d have to peg the BLR as a young cockerel, they are a slower maturing bird and you might not be able to tell from feather color just yet, but having such a prominent red comb at this stage makes me lean that way. Leet us know what happens! Matthew, Scratch and Peck Feeds.
Carol says
So was it a rooster?