My crowing "HEN"!?

[lucy-feathers]

Hi everyone, I have just started raising chickens for the first time. I have a small flock of 6, 1 ROO and 5 HENS, or so I thought. This A. M. my "Henrietta " started crowing. Is this a common thing or do I have a "henry" in disguise? The culprit is the Golden Buff Orpington.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

How old is he/she? Also, could you please get better pictures of her/his comb, wattle, legs, saddle feathers, and tail feathers?
Thank you!

 

[MountainWoman73]

If he's under a year old and crowing, that's a rooster. The stories you hear of crowing hens are older, more mature birds. If you have a more obvious/ dominant rooster, it's not unusual for the secondary rooster to develop less obvious sex characteristics and crow less because he's being sumbissive. I would keep both until you know who's nicest and then eat one.

 

[lucy-feathers]

Thank you. He/she is just over 3 months.. My "OBVIOUS ROO" has also started crowing. They are all 3 months.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

At just over 3 months that is a cockerel.....the crowing wasnt even what sealed the deal on that

 

[lucy-feathers]

If he's under a year old and crowing, that's a rooster. The stories you hear of crowing hens are older, more mature birds. If you have a more obvious/ dominant rooster, it's not unusual for the secondary rooster to develop less obvious sex characteristics and crow less because he's being sumbissive. I would keep both until you know who's nicest and then eat one.

Thanks, I have figured out that the NOT so obvious, will be the first one in the pot... He is a BUff Orpington, and VERY much a bully!