collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Hen or rooster ID  (Read 8229 times)

Offline Wolfdog2314

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 1127
  • Location: Washington
Hen or rooster ID
« on: April 23, 2016, 06:42:06 PM »
I'm new two chickens and have 6 under the lamp currently. But about a month ago I had this straggler find itself wandered onto my property. So I put it in the coop and I'm hoping it's a hen cuz it's a pretty dang cool chicken. Super friendly and curious. I've watched some videos and read some articles on sexing chickens. But what do u think?

Offline 3dsheetmetal

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 503
  • Location: Whatcom County
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2016, 06:51:00 PM »
It's a hen  :tup:
It's better to have a gun and not need it than to need one and not have it.                                                                             Local 66 sheetmetal workers

Offline Wolfdog2314

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 1127
  • Location: Washington
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2016, 06:55:25 PM »
The wife and I are debating this right now. Haha

Why do u say hen so surely? (I'm sure it's easy for some people, I'm clearly new to the chicken game)

I'm not seeing any wattles, which makes me think hen.
Yet the tail feathers seem more pointy and less defined like a rooster.

Thanks for your help!

Offline rackattack

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 659
  • Location: Battle Ground
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2016, 06:59:34 PM »
Looks like a Barred Rock hen to me.  Comb is pretty light colored and it lacks wattles.  I've got one very similar and it's about 2 1/2 months right now.

Offline Old Dog

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 1190
  • Location: Pierce County
  • Groups: Old Dog
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2016, 07:34:19 PM »
It's a hen.  No comb, no waddles, and no spurs. 

This is a rooster:
Hunt hard and shoot straight!

Offline huntingfool7

  • Trade Count: (+17)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1722
  • Location: Puyallup, WA
  • Groups: huntingfool7
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2016, 07:37:46 PM »
Looks like a Barred Rock hen to me.  Comb is pretty light colored and it lacks wattles.  I've got one very similar and it's about 2 1/2 months right now.

 :yeah:

Offline Wolfdog2314

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 1127
  • Location: Washington
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2016, 07:52:16 PM »
Awesome guys thanks! Sounds lame, but I was getting attached to this damn chicken and didn't want to have to eat it  :chuckle:

Offline LDennis24

  • Bear poker
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 5452
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2016, 12:36:42 PM »
I think it's hard to say it's a hen. Where about's do you live? Anywhere near Deer Lake? Some gal brought me one just like that and she said it just wandered in one day and it turned out to be a rooster. He's meaner than a snake now too but it keep's the cat's and raven's away from the chicken coop. The color of his (your chicken's) waddle's and comb look dark and it look's pretty young. Does it have knobs on its legs where the spur's are developing?

Offline Encore 280

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1993
  • Location: Poulsbo
  • Groups: Encore 280
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2016, 12:46:54 PM »
It's Bruce Jenner!!!! :yike:

Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 4366
  • Location: Chehalis
    • https://www.facebook.com/stiknstring.bow
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2016, 01:07:02 PM »
I say it is a hen, I look at the comb (or lack of one) and tail feathers.
A rooster will have a more pronounced comb, and longer, narrower tail feathers. wont have wattles, or spurs until older.
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor
NASP Certified Basic Archery Instructor Trainer

Offline Wolfdog2314

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 1127
  • Location: Washington
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2016, 04:05:56 PM »
I'm in La Center. And luckily she, Darla, haha is and has always been a hen! Since growing my own chicks I'd estimate she wondered into my care when she was about 6 weeks old or so. She's now doing well with my 2 month old chicks!

Thanks again for the ID help. I've been learning a lot about these birds.


I think it's hard to say it's a hen. Where about's do you live? Anywhere near Deer Lake? Some gal brought me one just like that and she said it just wandered in one day and it turned out to be a rooster. He's meaner than a snake now too but it keep's the cat's and raven's away from the chicken coop. The color of his (your chicken's) waddle's and comb look dark and it look's pretty young. Does it have knobs on its legs where the spur's are developing?

Offline lokidog

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 15186
  • Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2016, 08:19:59 PM »
Ha ha.  I was going to say hen as well since it does not appear to have any hackle feathers in your photo, either on the neck or in front of the tail.

My first chicken was a rooster I ran down in the bushes along a road by Shelton.  No houses nearby so was either dropped or ran away.

Offline Widgeondeke

  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 3374
  • Location: Lake Stevens, WA
  • US Army Infantry 91-98
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #12 on: June 06, 2016, 10:26:53 AM »
agree that is a young un still.
Hens/pullets have a comb and waddles, just not as big as a cockerel.
usually by 4 months old the cockerel with give you audible signs he is destined for the fryer. visually it is about the 16-20 week time frame also.
I did have a Rhode Island Red hen that had a comb twice the size of the others.

If I had to guess..... Barred Rock pullet(female less than 1 year old)

Offline Katmai Guy

  • Retired
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2014
  • Posts: 1590
  • Location: Covington
Re: Hen or rooster ID
« Reply #13 on: June 06, 2016, 11:01:42 AM »
If it crows, its a rooster, if it lays an egg, its a hen? :dunno:
"Keep shootin, when there's lead in the air, there's hope"

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by Rat44
[Today at 12:26:36 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by spin05
[Today at 12:03:42 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:19:01 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 09:15:12 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal