Rooster or crowing hen? - Ask Extension
I have 4, about 2 1/2 month old, Araucana chicks. 3 of them are still peeping, but 1, more days than not, is crowing. Looking at them I can't see any ...
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Rooster or crowing hen? #268270
Asked August 07, 2015, 11:09 AM EDT
I have 4, about 2 1/2 month old, Araucana chicks. 3 of them are still peeping, but 1, more days than not, is crowing. Looking at them I can't see any difference between them, but we've never had a rooster before so I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I've had adult hens crow occasionally, but not this often. Is this an indication that we have a rooster?
Lincoln County Oregon
Expert Response
At about 10 weeks of age, some chicks may begin to show some signs of maturing into a rooster. While chickens don't have puberty, as the gonads develop hormones will begin the development of morphological sex traits. For roosters that means, larger size, significant comb, waddle, and spur development (some hens will get small spurs), long tapered hackle, saddle, and tail feathers compared to the shorter rounded feathers of the females, and of course crowing.
In a few more weeks, any roosters will be fairly obvious.
In a few more weeks, any roosters will be fairly obvious.
