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Are they cockerels?!

8 replies

CityGirlGoesCountry · 25/10/2014 19:49

Hello all. I have a flock of seven, three of whom are new and I'm concerned they are cockerels.
They were sold to me as pullets by a petting farm but am worried they don't know their chickens as well as they think!
Two are Amber Stars (identical so have only pictured one) and one is a Silver Spangled Hamburg. Feel like I've been staring at them so long I don't know what I think anymore… So if you have an opinion please let me know - thank you!

Are they cockerels?!
Are they cockerels?!
OP posts:
cedricsneer · 25/10/2014 22:49

Hi there - I'm afraid the second one is definitely a cockerel (see wattle, comb, saddle feathers,tail etc). I'll check 1st pic again - can't do it on the app.

CityGirlGoesCountry · 25/10/2014 23:41

Hi Cedric, thanks very much for your post. Yes the tail plumage on the Spangle has been really bothering me, I think there'll be no shiny white eggs for us!
The two ambers have grown so fast compared to some older pullets I got recently. They're so tall and leggy (thick, yellow legs, not sure about the significance of that) with pert tales and long necks, and the photo here isn't great so will try to get another one tomorrow.
I did just find this of the photo of the two of them I took earlier, not very clear but hopefully illustrates the pointy hackles that have been worrying me with those two.
Have raised them all from eight weeks and we are very fond of them, so would be sad if we had to (carefully) rehome them...
Thanks again

Are they cockerels?!
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cedricsneer · 26/10/2014 06:51

Oh it's a bummer - I hatched out 4 silkies in the summer. Two were definitely Roos (hard to sex silkies) so I rehomed them, only to come home with the empty pet carrier to find that the other 2 were crowing to each other Sad. They were obviously thrilled that the dominant roo had gone and they could be themselves Sad. Obviously I had to get straight back in the car with those 2 and rehomed them with the tolerant farmer too (luckily he has hundreds of free range chickens and doesn't want to dispatch them).

On the other hand I also hatched out two of the loveliest, tamest polish and they are both pullets - thank goodness, as they are now much loved pets and spend the evening sitting on our knee being stroked!

I am still on the app, but will log in to the site and have a look.

cedricsneer · 26/10/2014 06:55

Ps how old are the amber stars? If you want a very quick opinion, go to www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

cedricsneer · 26/10/2014 07:07

So in the second one, the closest amber star looks like a pullet, and the one behind a roo. I'm no expert and it would be useful to see if there are saddle feathers etc, but the one behind has much bigger wattles, and what looks like hackle feathers on the neck. Don't take my word for it though Confused.

CityGirlGoesCountry · 26/10/2014 12:50

Hi again, so my husband thinks he caught one of the white ones crowing this morning Sad he couldn't work out which one as they are indistinguishable apart from a black feather on one of their tails.
Theyre 20 weeks old. Inseparable and very sweet. All three of the suspected Cockerels get bossed around royally by the ladies! 10 weeks after getting them they're still not allowed in the coop at night!
I'm attaching a couple more pictures, one of Peepers in the veg patch and two of Cheepers on at the black bin - so you can get a better look at the feathers. Thanks again.

Are they cockerels?!
Are they cockerels?!
Are they cockerels?!
OP posts:
cedricsneer · 26/10/2014 13:14

Oh yes. I'm afraid they all look like Roos to me. Sorry about that Hmm. Will you have to rehome them?

CityGirlGoesCountry · 26/10/2014 13:32

I think so, I couldn't choose between the two white ones as I'm so fond of them both. Keeping the little spangle would then be an option, but he's not the friendliest anyway. I don't know…
Going to call the farm and asked what would happen if I took them back. If they keep them alive then I'll probably just do that. Thanks for your help.

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