How To Tell if Your Chicken is a Rooster

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There are many signs to look for if you suspect a chicken may actually be a rooster. Just because a store says that their baby chicks are all pullets (hens) doesn't mean they are always 100% accurate. I share what you should look for after the chickens are about 12 weeks old to determine if you may have a rooster.
We have 13 chickens living in an 8'x4' chicken coop that we just finished building. We fear one or more may actually be roosters. The breeds are as follows:
5 Buff Orpington
2 Ameraucana
2 Black Sex Links
2 Silver Laced Wyandottes
2 Olive Eggers
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Опубликовано:

7 июл 2022

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Комментарии : 77

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

What is your favorite part about keeping backyard chickens? 😎🐔🐓

@iLoveMyPygmyGoats 4 месяца назад

Didn't see an update on this year old video, but I can tell you how my situation with 3 roosters turned out. I got 39 pullets and 3 turned out to be roosters. Since they were raised together they pretty much got along with the exception of a spat or two occasionally and apparently they settled whatever differences they had amicably because any confrontation never ended with a bloody rooster. It probably helped each rooster had his own harem by the time they were mature plus we had 30 acres they could free range. They lived fairly peacefully together their entire lives and even entered the large chicken coop together every night without incident.

@perfectionnotallowed6093 2 года назад

I’ve always experienced some of my chicks being roosters. I think the only way to avoid it is probably to get started pullets because they’re older. My first year doing chickens I bought 12. I ended up with six hens and six roosters. I bought those from a local farmer. I don’t think she knew how to sex them. Over the years from Tractor Supply 1 out of every 10 tends to be a rooster. I harvest them because too many roosters throws off the hen to rooster ratio and it’s overwhelming to the hens.

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

We some some chicks at Tractor Supply Company that we would have loved to buy but most of theirs were "straight-run" and we wanted to make sure we were only buying pullets. We bought all of these chicks from Rural King and it looks like they didn't do a very good job of sexing them! Agreed, we are trying to keep 10-12 hens per rooster. So if we end up with 2 roosters, we either want to add a few more hens to the flock or rehome one of the roosters. Although buying more pullets may just repeat the cycle of getting a random rooster and we'll end up with 500 chickens before we know it doing that! 😂🐔

@Wildflower_Breads 10 месяцев назад

I appreciate that you said "live free" at the end. We're trying out here. 🇨🇦

@crystalhenderson1654 Год назад

I bought 9 Pullets, 8 weeks in I think one of my Rhode Island Blues is a Roo. I think he tried to crow this morning. I can not have roosters and do not know what to do. But mine is the same way, he/she is larger than the rest and has a huge comb and waddles where the other eithg only have very small combs. Freezer camp is a big NO, I have raised them from 2 day old chicks and Love them! I wanted chickens for eggs, not meat!

@karlchebator 2 месяца назад

I never bought chickens before but I got six one is black and I'm afraid I might be a rooster so I'm in the same boat as you. 5:14 5:14

@UnderThreeAcres 2 года назад

Having a rooster is a good idea for predator control. When they are fully grown they protect the ladies. If you have 2, one will be the Alpha and the other a beta. Our two roosters work well together to protect our layers. We have a second coop this year with our babies. The reason the foxes were successful in snatching so many of them is because the coop didn’t have a fully mature rooster. There are 8 that are going to start crowing soon. Some of those guys will feed our family. That Americauna is definitely a rooster. His offspring will blue or green eggs layers. If any of them are nasty pick them up and hold them upside down until they settle down. Our rooster was a jerk. I did this three times and now he is the most gentle guy and a keeper. The ladies love him and he doesn’t chase anyone. Rapists end up as food. I won’t have anyone roughing up my ladies, gentle lovers only. 🤭

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

You always have the best comments, Tina! 😁 You are starting to convince me that 2 roosters isn't so bad. Do you think 2 roosters and 12 hens is a poor ratio? We might be able to add another 8 hens for a better balance. I just don't want to crowd their 4x8 coop too much. If anybody else is reading this comment, make sure you go check out Tina's channel! 😃🐔

@UnderThreeAcres 2 года назад

@@Aprons.Overalls I think the rule is 1 rooster to 10 hens, but I think it depends on the temperaments of them. In the winter, more bodies is better for the chickens to keep warm. The coop is just for sleeping and you have a very large run. It’s only a concern with crowding if they have to stay in the coop day and night, otherwise 20 or 22 should be okay.

@milkhousemusic1593 Год назад

Take note of how the chicken carries itself- horizontal back with poofy breast = hen. Upright body, lack of breast, high step, and short back = rooster. Note that some breeds of hens can have large combs. Also, some hens have slight spurs. Some roosters never crow, while some roosters will even sit in a nest never to actually lay an egg!

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

Excellent tips! Thank you for sharing. 😊

@cassieb1860 Год назад

I have purchased numerous times from mail order and only wanted pullets. I still got a rooster out of 25. Last time at Tractor Supply an older woman taught me how to sex them while they are still small. If you look at the wing and it has 2 layers of feathers it is a female. If the wing is a little stumpy and only has 1 layers of feathers it is a rooster. I did this with her at tractor supply and all 12 were hens!! First time ever! This really only works for the first week. Once they are a few weeks old you can tell by their body shape. Males are more upright in the chest and the females are more horizontal carry in the body. My favorite roosters have been my Marans and my Cochins. They are now about 3 and have never bee aggressive at all.

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

Thank you so much for sharing, Cassie! We will have to try this when we get chick's again. Which may be sooner than later because out of our 14 chickens, we are pretty sure 2 are roosters. 😬

@sandycorrigan1845 Год назад

We bought 25 pullets and ended up with 4 roosters. 3 salmon feverolles and an Easter egger. Now I believe one of our olive eggers might be a rooster as well

@MJ-wz6jo 9 месяцев назад

I have 2 months old crowing. Chickadee is a rooster for sure he has slow feathering but what he does have is definitely a rooster.

@skippim.5246 10 месяцев назад

I'm in Idaho and belong to a facebook Chicken group. When we discover we have a pullet rooster (unknown) we put them on posts for re-homing. There's always someone who takes them. We have backyard chickens to free range on acreage here. Plus, sometimes a photo of a beautiful guy, will have everyone willing to take him! Some City limits or HOA's restrict the rooster within the boundaries. I'm a newbie with my girls, so I'm always searching for new information to keep my 7 healthy and happy!

@GeekSpeakDesign 6 часов назад

So are we.

@perfectionnotallowed6093 2 года назад

The Ameraucana is a rooster. Or whatever breed that chicken is that you showed coming out first. That orange marbeling on his wings is a dead giveaway. His comb being that red at 10 weeks is also a giveaway. 💜

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

Thanks, Perfection. That chicken is probably our favorite out of the bunch so if they are truly a rooster, that will be pretty neat. I hope the black chicken we showed with the comb and waddle doesn't end up being a second rooster! 😲

@perfectionnotallowed6093 2 года назад

@@Aprons.Overalls I’m pretty sure the black one is a hen. Black sex links are black sex links because their gender can be easily identified at birth by their feathers. If she wasn’t a black sex link, I definitely agree that she could almost pass for a cockerel. Technically, a black sex link cockerel is barred like a barred rock. That’s the only reason I definitely say she has to be a hen. This breed of chickens is sexed by their feathers at birth. 💜

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

Good to know! I wondered, because the black chicken doesn't show any behavior signs of being a rooster. It's been so much fun learning about chickens. 😁

@ccasenathhorton Год назад

I bought 25. 10 straight run and 15 pullets. Tractor supply said 50/50 female for straight run, 97% female for pullets. They are 9 weeks old now, and I can’t see much of a difference yet.

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

You are brave! The 50/50 odds on TSC's straight-run scared us away. We have at least 1 rooster. Somebody has decided they LOVE crowing. Pretty sure we have another fella who is shy. We'll be doing a follow-up video soon. Good luck with your new chickens! :)

@Pdubb19 Год назад

Yea that Americana is a roo checking the saddle if I was wrong which I could be I would shocked just because it has the characteristics

@cherylmarks6491 10 месяцев назад

I had a hen that crowed .

@joejoslin7451 Год назад

I bought a bunch of Jersey giants and Cornish cross for meat bc they were cheap. (I may be wrong, but I thought I read that Jersey giants are a dual purpose breed.) Now they're starting to mature, somebody's crowing, but I don't know who. But it doesn't really matter; they're all for meat.

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

Some people don't like the sound of a rooster but we love it! 😀

@edmundostefany7279 4 месяца назад

This is my second time having chickens , I have a few Jersey Giants, Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Light Brahmas, Plymouth rocks and a few silkies , we are located down here tampa Florida, we love our chickens but I think one of my buff is a Roos, we have them only a few weeks , will keep you posted , “Live Free” 🇺🇸

@RosieTheChicken Месяц назад

I can tell by the size, and size of comb, crowing, the feathers around its neck and the pointy horns on their feet

@NonaMaryGrace1952 Год назад

I ended up with 2roosters. Kept one. Gave the other away to freezer camp 💕NonnaGrace 🐓

@alularussell778 2 месяца назад

Great vid, I've wondered when we should start looking for clues in our own group of chicks. Otherwise, my real question is, have you ever had another website called "survival with Craig"? You sure look like him.

@lisacaskin7608 9 месяцев назад

I've bought 10 pellets and 4 were roosters.its pretty common has happened to me at least 4 times

@andrewjr11 2 года назад

They all cook up nice 🙂

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

🍗🐔😂

@wanderingstarfarmhouse 2 года назад

Yeah, it's those wispy tail feathers that look very "rooster-y". Especially the black ones with the green sheen... We've always put them in the soup pot before because we lived in town and didn't want to bug our neighbors. But out here we are interested in having a rooster for flock protection. We'll take one off your hands if you end up with multiple. In Kansas we always bought "straight run" chicks that were un-sexed. I kind of wondered why chicks were so much more expensive than I remembered--then I realized they were sexed to be girls. The six we got last year did all prove to be female. Our four chicks this year are too young to tell. Our four guineas could be either. I hope for at least one male and one female--but we'll see...

@Aprons.Overalls 2 года назад

We are trying to keep 1 rooster per 10-12 hens. We'll be pretty excited if ONE turns out to be a rooster. We are stressed about having more than 1 rooster - I can't imagine being in a city where they aren't allowed and hoping none turn out to be roosters! That's great to hear that you may be interested in one of the roosters if we end up with 2+. We actually have some friends close by with 4-5 chickens that they are looking to get rid of. All were baby chicks this year and one may be a rooster. We might be able to help you out there. Can't wait to see videos about your chickens! 👍😍🐔

@throttle4593 Месяц назад

I have loved all of my roosters but one. In my experience it seems like the dominant rooster runs the show and the other one just hangs out as part of the flock. Not sure if that's been luck or what. I do know it's hard to get rid of them when you've raised them from the egg. We had an Ameraucana hen that I would have sworn was a boy, but she began laying eggs.

@PamBurrows 5 месяцев назад

So did you get roosters after all? Or were they pullets as sold? 😮

@gcobisamankomo5724 6 месяцев назад

Mine are still small they have one week old but some have feathers at back while some they haven't yet so I was worried if they are roosters 😢...

@angirubino6751 8 месяцев назад

When I bought my chicks I was told that there is a 10% chance of getting a rooster whenever you buy chicks from a farm store. I have one that I cannot tell if it is a rooster or not. The bottom two of its wing feathers are really big and a different color than the rest of its feathers. It is less than a year old. Also, it always roosts a couple feet away from the other hens.

@thatdeliagirl1491 9 месяцев назад

We had this happen, and worried it has happened again!!!

@BeautifulLorah 11 месяцев назад

So what did you end up with? Hopefully not 3 roosters!

@Pdubb19 Год назад

Another way I'd the shine of the feathers shiny roo dull hen

@mischellnielson1378 3 месяца назад

I bought 13 pullets this year and I 5 suspect roosters.. so frustrating!

@user-wc4ye8ic5l Год назад

Indeed to order anig chicken with the baby one and sbig roster

@elizabethjpitts5491 3 месяца назад

I have five chickens raised from chicks. I get four eggs a day. I can't figure out if one is a rooster. No crowing or looking different.

@elainegothard 3 месяца назад

I'm not allowed any roosters. Have brought 4 pullets and had 3 roos. Rehomed unknowingly to a rooster runner. Current have suspicions on two more out of 4. They refuse to take them back. Only breeder around for mikes

@angiepratt6931 Год назад

I bought pullets and I just wanted to just have in one rooster ended up with two so I took one rooster out and took him to sale him but u can always sale the rooster or put in a extra pen and fatten up to eat it

@Hotwash544 Год назад

Can I ask if your chickens jump over the fence? I was thinking of building something similar.

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

Hello, Joseph. I was VERY worried about the chickens jumping the fence. After doing my research, so many people talked about chickens not flying over a fence, even when they have the physical ability. Many people get away with even smaller fences. I went with 6 feet and pulled 8-12 inches onto the ground and covered it with river rock. They've been out there for about 2 months and not a single attempt to fly over the fence. We have 3 medium sized trees in the coop and I trimmed them so the birds couldn't get to the lower branches. We'll be doing a video later this year of the full chicken coop and the run design. Best of luck with your project!

@Hotwash544 Год назад

@@Aprons.Overalls thanks. I see you used those green metal t-posts you can find at home depot or Lowes but for 6 ft of fence are the posts actually 7 ft long (1 ft in ground and 6 ft above)? I want aware they sold those posts in that length. Thanks!

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

Yes, I used t-posts. Those are 7 foot t posts which end up being about 6 feet high after putting them in the ground. I like getting t-posts from farm stores like Tractor Suppy Company. I find the quality is better and you can get larger sizes like 7 or 8 feet. Their 6 foot chicken wire is also reasonably priced. 🙂

@salinamartin8711 Год назад

I clip the birds on one side wing. It throws them off balance a bit and stops that jumping over. You can watch videos to see how to do. Easy.

@Pdubb19 Год назад

Also back when craigslist was viable idk if it is anymore you could put free rooster from there it's out of your hands you can eat it heard doesn't taste as good as a hen and if you plan on culling it for food you could just cull it and either bury it which can bring foxes or coyotes around learn this from experience or throw it out I know this sounds horrible but it comes with the gig your gonna have to cull a chicken one day either shit hits the fan and you need food or it got hurt or is sick and can't afford a vet bill or it's a rooster and you two roosters already and don't want more also love the videos

@user-wc4ye8ic5l Год назад

And s big roster too how can i gave her thid gift

@jacobslabs381 5 дней назад

Every flock usually has 1 rooster for protection. I personally have seen a rooster attack a chicken hawk that somehow got into the coup and then got stuck in there. I had to open the coup to free the hawk it was scared to death of that rooster. Additional roosters are harvested for meat. It is the reality. People taking free roosters online are most likely eating them. Fyi. Very rarely, they have lost their rooster to a dog or coyote and need a new flock protector.

@jacobslabs381 5 дней назад

Oh and when I had 2 rooster brother chicks. One was obviously dominant. The other did not crow and walked like hens. He kept himself low in pecking order. Almost to appear like a hen and not cause conflict. I felt bad gor it and gave it to my neighbor. I was right, it was a rooster. His feathers blossomed and he started crowing once the threat of an alpha was gone. Very interesting.

@Pdubb19 Год назад

Sorry I keep commenting but if you have to young roos and they were together for a while they shouldn't fight not like fight to death or anything one will always make it self known it's the head of the coop but say if you got a full grown rooster and just throw it in the pen with our building introduction coop next to them and then they will fight to the death and once they taste blood that's it these were my experiences at a young age

@rachelbishop8556 Месяц назад

I did get 13 pullets and wanted 1 roo..I got 3 🐓.

@RobertPRobinsonJr 9 месяцев назад

The first time I went to tractor supply and I bought what was supposed to be all females I got nine roosters in one chicken so they're full of s***I'm not saying it happens all the time but it happened to me

@syckindahead Год назад

What's the update?

@Aprons.Overalls Год назад

We ended up with 2 roosters, as expected. One rooster is the alpha and the other is a very submissive beta which worked out great. We actually ended up adding more hens so now we have a total of 20 hens and 2 roosters. :)

@paulabotkins6626 5 месяцев назад

I bought from tractor supply twice and ended up with a rooster both times

@Catherine-nm9gt 22 дня назад

I don't see any spir nobs on their legs

@Richard-yg6di 10 месяцев назад

I bought 10 pullets 4 became roosters

@tomsliney1634 8 месяцев назад

I ended up 2/3 roosters

@modernmom2005 Год назад

I bought 8 pullets 1 is a rooster! Lol

@paisleyramirez7206 9 месяцев назад

I need help. My “hen” started crowing. Is older than the others and hasn’t laid any eggs. Is definitely the dominant bird in the flock. Has big thick legs but no spurs . Bright red comb and waddle that are way larger than any of the hens we have. Like hanging like a ball sack low 😅😅😂 but her tail isn’t long at all. She has tried mating with one of our hens also. I hear when there is no rooster this is common behavior but the physical characteristics are throwing me off too. Idk what I have here . Someone help? Lol

@MJ-wz6jo 9 месяцев назад

Tale feathers if they are round tail feathers it's a hen long wispy ends are roosters.

@DaisyKarensunflower 6 месяцев назад

There crow early.

@BadBoyBreeze13 8 месяцев назад

That’s definitely not an Americano. It’s Easter Egger.

@LarryI7498 11 месяцев назад

I suspect my Jersey giant is a rooster they are almost 4 months. Heard a little crow today but sometimes girls make a little crowing. If it turns out to be a rooster, we'll then Chicken dinner.