Saturday, January 21, 2012

Rooster?

Our three new chicks are coming along nicely, but I noticed right off on the Wyandotte the development of the comb and wattles was far more advanced than the other two, even after a week of having them.  I was reading this morning that roos develop their combs and wattles sooner than pullets.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  Here's a picture and the chick is barely a month old.  The other two have not even started growing their combs and wattles yet.  Am I raising a meat bird sooner than I expected to?  Sorry for the picture quality.














If I have a rooster, I am really disappointed because the Wyandotte was the one I was really excited about having.

Happy homesteading,

Candace
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11 comments:

  1. DawnJanuary 21, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    Been there, done that. Our first experience with chickens, we picked up some chicks from someone who obviously knew no more than us. The roos developed their combs early on. Oh the lovely sound of the crowing!!!! ha ha

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    1. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 22, 2012 at 8:49 AM

      We've always been fairly lucky when buying chicks, but I know they are hard to sex sometimes. I would love to keep him, but living in a neighborhood will make it hard.

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    Of the chicks I've raised, the wattle and comb do develop a whole lot earlier in roos. Also there's a behaviour difference that exhibits earlier, as far as being aggressive, possessive of food, or territorial.

    You might be having dinner in a month.

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    1. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 22, 2012 at 8:47 AM

      Nate said he noticed that one pecking on the other two, so that might also be indicative, but it may just be establishing order as well. We'll see.

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  3. JennyJanuary 21, 2012 at 10:46 PM

    Hi,
    I have silverlaced wyandotte hens. They're about 5 months and only just have finished growing their combs... They didn't start growing them until 2-3 months. I was thinking they were actually growing them late. I don't know if that's a difference between roosters and pullets, but mine turned out all girls.

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    1. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 22, 2012 at 8:46 AM

      I feel certain we have a roo, especially since your experience is different.

      Delete
  4. LeighJanuary 22, 2012 at 6:53 AM

    Yes, of the two batches of chicks we've raised, that was exactly my experience. The cockerels developed their combs and wattles sooner than the pullets. Of course, that is somewhat relative to the breed, and I have read where an odd individual didn't follow the "rules." Those beautiful arching tail feathers are the confirmation. And the crowing! So funny when they first start to crow.

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    1. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 22, 2012 at 8:46 AM

      I spoke with the person who sold me the chicks and the Wyandotte he kept of the bunch has not started growing wattles or a comb, so I think I picked out the only roo in the bunch. That's my life story! We would love to have a standard rooster, but I'm not quite sure the neighbors would approve. I think Nappy doesn't really bother them because he doesn't really sound like a rooster, is not really loud and doesn't crow that early or all day long.

      Delete
  5. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 22, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    Nate has chastised me for the quality of the picture! Ha, ha!

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  6. What Pigs Don't KnowJanuary 25, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    I would say if that chick is only a month old you 99.99% have a rooster on your hands. Sorry! -Carrie

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    1. Cat Eye CottageJanuary 25, 2012 at 5:25 PM

      Thanks for your comment, and it supports everything I've been told so far. I guess he will be our first meat bird, so I'm kind of excited about that.

      Delete

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