There are a few ways to tell the difference between hens and roosters as chicks and they include: Autosexing: The sexes of some breeds are easy to spot at hatching because of different coloration or other characteristic. I am sure when most poeple think of a rooster they imagine the iconic image of the rooster with a large comb, head thrown back to crow and a long rooster tail. Fights with other roos but great with the ladies. If he sees something suspicious he will sound the alarm and lead the hens away from danger. Roosters dont. He was very attentive to the hens, kind to all the hens but only mated the bigger ones, always made sure they had all the treats, defended them fearlessly from hawks, kept them together, very good with people. In places where keeping chickens is not allowed, you might begin to deal with noise complaints at this time. If you want to know more about chickens, quail, and goats, The Happy Chicken Coop is the place to be! This occurs only after several more months for Rhode Island Red hens. Id love to take a look and Ill share my thoughts. I have also never heard of a bull breed or a sire breed. It is not routinely used as is claimed. These classic birds are an excellent choice if you want a little color in your egg carton. Some breeds of roosters (notablySebrights,Silkies, GoldenCampines) lack both hackle and saddle feathers (theyre termed hen feathered), butamong most breeds,these are reliable secondary characteristics since only males have saddle feathers. We discuss visual differences between adult rooster and hens here. My Rhode Island Reds do not run toward anyone or other chickens which are part of my backyard flocks. Even the experts are wrong 10% of the time, hence the occasional oops in the sexed chicks you buy. If your best rooster breed doesnt need tomeet a breed standard and you just want them to protect your flock,then you have plenty of options. My silkie man is a love-bug, who is mostly concerned with fighting the other roosters. From what I gather, our best choice is a barred rock. However not all hens may mate with him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The best way to tell if you have a rooster or a hen is by watching your bird's behavior and body development. Do not worry if you got the sex wrong though. From about 6-10 weeks old Wyandotte roosters will be showing their red combs and the presence of red wattles on the sides of their face! This is technically still my first year with chickens. Early crowing attempts by young roosters, which start around four to five months of age, are often comical. I've raised chickens and ducks for eggs and meat for many years. They should be a high production (200-250 large eggs a year), brown egg laying breed. They are sex-linked and all of the hens are blue! Egg laying is reserved solely for the hens. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. Table of Contents The Canadian Bresse also has blue and splash varieties along with the Liege Fighter and Sanjak Longcrower. Similar in reverse; a pint-sized bantam rooster wont be useful in a flock of lanky Australorp hens. Nothing more, nothing less. When he finds something tasty for the hens he will draw their attention to it by making a tuk sound to tell them he has found something interesting for them. A Rhode Island Red rooster is your flock's leader and keeps it in line and safe from predators. Whether youre interested in backyard chickens, exhibition birds, or even production birds, there is a blue one out there for you! Just because is a valid reason, albeit a vague one. There is NO such thing as a rooster breed. A breed has to include both male AND female. These feathers are beautifully designed to fall gracefully around the shoulders. The current recognized large fowl with blue are Ameraucana, Andalusian, Cochin, Jersey Giant, Langshan, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Sumatra, and Wyandotte. Blue Sumatra14. The black sex-links are produced by crossing the Barred Plymouth Rock hen with a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire . Grown pullets, or hens, are black with red mixed in their neck hackle feathers. Thank you for your time and effort of your article. I have a young 10 month old brazen Brahma (pretty decent protector) and an almost 5 year old sweet Brahma that has balance issues from a rooster attack (an Easter Egger culled his butt), hes scared of everything. Some of the breeds used to refine the desired hen include Java, Light Brahma, Brown Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, and Chinese Cochin. Many, many chunks of skin out of the backs of my legs and hands. They look exactly like a mini version of a stereotypical chicken and lay a lot of small cream eggs. You want your rooster to defend the flock from a strange dog, cat, fox or aerial predator, not from you or your children. Blue is a very common and very old color variation in chickens and is being bred into more and more breeds each year. One in particular seems different and I believe it may be a rooster. Rhode Island Blues are a hybrid crossing two of the best layers - the Rhode Island Red and the Australorp. A good flock protection rooster doesnt need to be friendly, but for obvious reasons, he does need to be manageable. When it comes to knowing whether your Rhode Island Red baby chicks are male or female, you may have to wait until about 6 weeks when you will start to see some clear differences in their wattles and combs. By the time theyre amonth old, little roostersare already becoming little roosters, not just in looks but in dominant rooster behavior. Long, sinuoushacklefeathers grow around a roosters neck and flow over his shoulders.Hens also have hackle feathers, but they stay rounded and shorter. However sex-linked birds will not breed true. Why are you complicating so much the grammar when the meaning is SO CLEAR? In the fun of getting tiny fluffy chicks, its hard to imagine a timetheywont be welcomeinthe barnyard (or backyard). The neck and shoulder area will usually be adorned with hackles. Remember, young Rhode Island Red females will not grow their wattles and combs for many months, whereas you can see the growth of wattles and combs on young males from as early as 6 weeks old! Blue Cochins can easily be found in both standard and bantam. Leghorns-bossy even at a young age. He noted the offspring created more eggs. For a beginner it can actually be very difficult to spot the difference. I believe Ive already mentioned that too. At 12 weeks old, you can tell a pullet from a cockerel by its saddle and hackle feathers. Byfour to six months of age, secondary feathers begin to formas the birds approach sexual maturity. Depending on your neighbor, it may be a short drive. Welsummers have chipmunk stripes in both sexes, but the eye stripe is better defined in the females than the males. In this situation, youll want a bird with a large frame to carry the musculature you expect their progeny to grow. Roosters will also have tail feathers (also known as sickle feathers) which gives them shape. Juan (who was Juanita) is protective of the hens but runs from us! Chickens and More 2023 - All Rights Reserved, Chick To Adult Life Cycle Differences Explained, visual differences between adult rooster and hens here, 10 Best Ways To Keep Chicken Water From Freezing, How To Candle Eggs: Definitive Day-By-Day Guide, What Is Rooster Aggression And How To Stop It, Sebright Chicken All You Need To Know: Color Varieties and More, Hatching Eggs For Sale: Top 14 Best Hatcheries, Duck Coops and Houses: All You Need To Know, Cinnamon Queen Chicken: Personality, Egg Colors and More, Barred Rock Chicken Breed Information and Owners Guide, Cuckoo Maran Chicks: A Complete Guide (With Pictures), 6 Best Heated Chicken Waterers (Reviews and Buyers Guide), The 17 Best Pet Duck Breeds For Backyards, Rhode Island Red Chicks: Top 5 Best Hatcheries. Rhode Island Reds have a classification with the American Poultry Association, but it's unclear . They will start to develop hackle feathers on the neck and sickle tail feathers around 12 weeks or so. Vent sexing can cause serious injury or death if done incorrectly, so this technique is best left to the professionals. If a rooster wants to mate he may do a little dance for her to try and get her to squat for him. These gorgeous birds are big, fluffy, lay lots of brown eggs, and have rich mahogany feathers edged in blue! All to help you prepare your flock accordingly! Thank you for this article! In some breeds, hackle feathers are a different color than feathers on other parts of their bodies. The first picture is of a Rhode Island Red rooster and hen. White Crested Blue Polish17. If your chick does not fall into these categories then you will have to observe them carefully and wait until they reach adolescence. Actually the two showing nice combs are hens (a cross between a Welsummer rooster and a Breda hen). A walking, squawking, feathered alarm clock with rooster spurs, set to crow at sunrise every day may drive them insane. If anyone else wishes to attack, feel free, but I have *much* better things to do with my time than continuing to try to defend my point on simple grammar & terminology. The article is just fine as written, and I appreciated reading it. Its natural to have a rooster with your hens, and many of us become curators of cantankerous roosters by accident. However can you guess in the second picture below? Blue Ameraucana2. Sapphire Olive Egger16. A mature or large RIR rooster weighs around 8.5 lbs and 6.5 lbs for a hen, while a bantam rooster weighs around 2.1 lbs. We have over a dozen roosters at our rescue. I choose only the breeds that are known to have docile (toward people) roosters, but I dont keep rooster breeds.. Premium Feather Member. They recognize Ameraucana, American Game, Andalusian, Newer breeds or hybrids that come in blue include the Blue Rock and, Blue Copper Marans is a blue version of the standard, Blue Rocks are actually a first-generation cross between the normal barred, Rhode Island Blues are another hybrid, but this time they mixed a, The Sapphire Olive Egger is a hybrid blue, As you can see there are an unimaginable number of, 17 Best Blue Chicken Breeds for Your Flock. We do want chicks but we do not want an aggressive rooster that attacks us; weve had that and we had to dispose of him. The definitive fail-safe method to distinguish roosters from hens occurs around five or six months of age: Hens lay eggs. Ive had ones that were pretty attentive to the hens and also good with people once theyd been trained (I do think you can train polishthey tend to pay attention to people). Since blue is heterozygous you will get mostly blue chicks with the rest being black or splash. White Crested Blue Polish is a fun variety that is very appropriately named! - The Happy Chicken Coop - All Rights Reserved. Or maybe a Wyandotte? Blue Jersey Giant9. Ive never heard that in dog circles. Your best rooster breed for protection will be aggressive and assertive but have a certain level of amenability. Your Rhode Island Red is considered a teenager at 4-17 weeks. The above information is only a general guide on what to expect at different ages for females and males. Your best rooster breed for protection will be aggressive and assertive but have a certain level of amenability. Onhybridbabyroosters, the primary feathers are shorter, look spindly, and lacka noticeable row of primary coverts. You might be surprised. Breeds include the Bovan Nera (sometimes called Black Rocks or Black Stars) in which Rhode Island Reds are crossed with Barred Plymouth Rocks. Aug 14, 2020 #7 MysteryChicken Black to White Experiment, continues. The American Poultry Association includes many different breeds, both bantam, and standard, that include blue varieties. I had a wonderful Salmon Faverolle. I believe I have two roosters out of eight. The Amazing Reason Why Ducks Walk In A Line. Ive had a Cuckoo Marans, RIR, black Australorps, and a buff Orpington rooster with the older Brahma. They also have a larger and more muscular body than hens. Some hens do crow occasionally, though not with the lusty assurance of rooster that comes with practice. Hens tend to stay closer to the ground, and only stretch up to around 15-16 inches in height, weighing in at about 10 pounds. Though hard to tell the difference between a Rhode Island Red hen and a rooster, here are a few guidelines to help you differentiate your chicken. They protect their flock and are responsible for the welfare and survival of the flock. Always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your birds. Because its a roosters duty to protect their flock and dominate their hens, they need to grow bigger and stronger and develop better weapons to fight off predators. Rhode Island Blues are another hybrid, but this time they mixed a Rhode Island Red and an Australorp! I have RIR thats about 5 mos old that crowed yesterday morning, & Im not sure its a hen or roo. The Sapphire Olive Egger is a hybrid bluechickenh a cute head tuft. So how doyoutellaparta baby rooster vs baby hen? These types of people exist. If you choose to raise them, you need to either live somewhere warm or make sure to keep them from getting too cold in the winter. If theyve all been raised together it should be OK to keep 2 roosters for 6 hens, but certainly no more. Rhode Island Blues are a combination between Rhode Island Reds and Australorps. Whether you have kept chickens for years, or are just starting out on your chicken journey. Large roosters are imposing, but the larger they go, the more tame and inattentive they tend to be. When a rooster is among the hens he will be watchful and will rarely eat until the ladies have finished. Plymouth Rock chickens are a heritage breed. Unfortunately, the size of the white spot will vary considerably, so this method of sexing is not infallible. Theyre nice, calm birds that lay a lot of big brown eggs. Also, you do not need a rooster to make the hen lay the egg. Hens do not have the high curved tail feathers. My post was a simple call for clarification and I wont be replying anymore to those who feel the obvious need to continue to attack an old post. Hens lay about 5 - 7 eggs per week. Similarly, Barred Plymouth Rocks have a light-colored spot on their heads upon hatching larger in males, and smaller and narrower in females. You can also find some wicked aggressive bantam roosters, but without some degree of heft or height, theyre not going to be effective at defending the flock. Just like a cattle farmer will not have a cow breed nor a bull breed. The generally accepted ratio is 10 hens for every 1 rooster. Color Varieties If you are interested in blue patterned birds you can find blue laced red or blue partridge Wyandottes, blue copper Marans, and blue brassy back Old English Game Bantams! Blue Breasted Red Old English Bantams are cute little bird that has game heritage, so you know theyre plucky! they will virtually be the same height and weight, making it harder to distinguish from each other based on just their body size. Chickens And More is quickly becoming the online destination for all backyard chicken enthusiasts. I would separate him and the Rhode Island Blue hen and let them hatch out their eggs. Let's stay updated! So if you have a chicken that is laying eggs they are definitely a hen and not a rooster. At adult age, there is a clear size difference between the Silkie hens and Silkie roosters. Hes much bigger with a big comb and wattle. Ive never heard that in cattle circles either. Splash chickens bred together will always produce splash chicks. Roosters are constantly on the lookout and an exceptional rooster will defend his flock to the death. The Rhode Island Red hen is a beautiful bird with a shiny red body, black and white neck, and black tail feathers. If you want something on the larger side, Id suggest getting a standard Cochin, Brahma or Langshan, since the larger they are, the more easy-going they tend to be. The color of their feathers is usually more subdued than the boys too. to consider when picking protective roosters; stature, attentiveness, and attitude. Reply. Some are the standard blue, but others may be a mix of blue and red. Thats a lot of blues! )is the biggest chicken of the bunch! These chicks can be sexed by comparing the growth rate of the wing feathers. That term is effectively and routinely used when referring to livestock, be it individuals or a group. Salmon Faverolles- Ours is still developing. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "afce9d7ed3cb9c06a0ff0183eb0d6497" );document.getElementById("b503fa7443").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To help you understand what chicks you are dealing with, here are all the main physical and behavioral differences between a hen and rooster of a Rhode Island Red. This merely shows whether an egg is fertile, not the gender. Cockerels may square off with other males, feathers ruffled, to establish a pecking order. Please reread my last paragraph of my first comment. Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Like with most chicken breeds, the first clue helping you to spot the difference between a Rhode Island Red hen and a rooster comes down to its size, stature, and body shape. This is a task for the professionals! Believe me, if sexing chickswere this easy, everycommercial hatchery in the world would use these methods. Theres no question why blue is absolutely gorgeous in chickens! Would you recommend Delaware Roosters? Their chest should be fairly broad as should the shoulders. Even is the rooster does not look like your typical rooster, they will have a rooster attitude all you have to do is watch carefully. Holding a chick upside down. Two of them are Polish and very attentive and friendly. And this articles intended audience is chicken people who already know that. But the one is definitely the dominant one. With any baby chick, its very hard to tell the difference based on size, color, temperament, or another normal strategy. There is a bantam sized Wyandotte too that weighs 3-3lb. 3 of my chicks became roosters. I love having a big, fluffy and friendly rooster in my flock, and it sparks some interesting conversations when people see him strolling through my yard. They have a lot of personality. Originally hybridswith complicated lineages,they continued to breed trueanddeveloped into an autonomous breed,such asLegbars (originally bred from Leghorn roosters and Barred Plymouth Rock hens). Youll notice that Rhode Island Red roosters stand more upright, at about 20-22 inches in height, weighing about 15 pounds. Our rooster (surprise! Plymouth Rock Hen. Again, the theory is wrong. The other 2 are with my other group of hens, for some reason they dont all stay together but one seems really pushy to me, chased one of my hens under a wood pile and she died under there before I knew it, the other seems to be now trying to hump the same time the pushy one gets one hen down. Other layers of large brown eggs include the Delaware, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Rhode Island White, and Sussex. Theyre known for their olive-green eggs, which are becoming a very popular egg color. Feather sexing of these hybrids is determined by a layer of feathers lying over the primaries. FREE EMAIL BONUSTips & smart strategies to save time and money! Delayed Feathering: Certain pure breeds can be sexed by the wing feathers. Byeightto tenweeks,combs and wattles are noticeably larger and more colorful among males. Sexing methods include: When chicks are just out of the shell and dry, the only reliable sexing method is examining the sex organs in their vents. Any suggestions for a good semi-docile rooster that would be a good meat bird for breeding. Sometimes, a rooster does a little dance for the hen to squat for him to mate. They are good mothers, but they are not cold-hardy at all! Here are the main physical and behavioral differences between a Silkie hen vs. a Silkie rooster. Learn Poultry Chickens Rhode Island Red Hen vs Rooster How to Tell the Difference? For example the Barred Rock males have a more diffused yellow spot on their head. I have found that my roosters are often the chicks that were the most easily handled and didn't mind being cuddled. Whereas a hens comb is much smaller and not as bright.
