You will soon be able to spot the roosters among the hens. I have another Rhode Island Blue that seems more like a hen. You may find a bad apple, so try another rooster before giving up on the breed. The saddle feathers on a cockerel just in front of its tail are narrow, pointy, and elongated. How else would one refer to a rooster, other than breed? How many hens should you have per rooster? Required fields are marked *. What is the best type of breed rooster do I need with my hy line hens, Your email address will not be published. The third is a bantam Belgian DUccle named Napoleon, and he is a fantastic pet. They also have a larger and more muscular body than hens. One does not need a male Rhode Island Red for the hen to lay eggs. Rhode Island Blue $5.00 Rhode Island Blues are a hybrid crossing two of the best layers - the Rhode Island Red and the Australorp. Ive never heard that in cattle circles either. In theory roosterslet their feet dangle while hens draw up their legs. In fact, this is the main differentiator of hens and roosters in most chicken breeds, from silkie hens and roostersto ISA Brown hens and roosters, even to more obscure breeds like the silver laced wyandotte. Roosters are usually a little heavier and larger. Our 13 Favorite Rooster Breeds (Including Pictures) We also share 5 easy methods you can use to tell the difference. A breed includes both hens & roosters. Ive never heard that in dog circles. Some are the standard blue, but others may be a mix of blue and red. These long feathers are pointed at the tips whereas a hens neck feathers are much shorter and more rounded. These beautiful birds are white with splotches of black, blue, or grey. However not all hens may mate with him. Premium Feather Member. Rhode Island Blue - Mt Healthy Hatcheries The Breda is a French breed that can be found in blue and splash. When a rooster is among the hens he will be watchful and will rarely eat until the ladies have finished. Feather Coloration: Some breeds (such as Welsummers and Barred Rocks) can be sexed by their feather coloration. The Rhode Island Red hen is a beautiful bird with a shiny red body, black and white neck, and black tail feathers. Id love to take a look and Ill share my thoughts. Where did these magnificent roosters get their start? Your email address will not be published. A roosters comb will be much larger, waxy to the touch and bright red. Information provided is general purpose only and not meant to replace professional and medical advice. Are you wondering whether you have a rooster or a hen in your flock? Leghorns-bossy even at a young age. Hens lay about 5 - 7 eggs per week. Your regular barred chickens can be turned from black and white striped to blue and white striped! Roosters are constantly on the lookout and an exceptional rooster will defend his flock to the death. Youll notice these roosters will watch over them as they eat, run over if there is any conflict or a debacle, and will generally follow and trail your hens. As with all things chicken, leg thickness is not uniform across all breeds. I have 7 adult roosters, and theyve all got their strengths. Here are the main differences between Rhode Island Red hens and roosters and how you can tell the difference from an adult age all the way down to baby chicks. I am crossing my Rhode Island Blue rooster to the blue rock hens. It all began with a series of chicken breeding experiments back in 1854 by a man named William Tripp. Are Aspen Shavings REALLY A Good Bedding For Chickens? Male chicks will often have a white spot over their wing web on the down, while females do not have this spot. 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved. Our blogs and articles are updated regularly with many different important topics on care, purchasing tips, fun facts, and more. She had a game rooster that she said was a jerk but hes super protective over his ladies, hes a really good rooster.. and then raised some chicks. Blue Rock12. All to help you prepare your flock accordingly! Let's stay updated! When it comes to knowing whether your Rhode Island Red baby chicks are male or female, you may have to wait until about 6 weeks when you will start to see some clear differences in their wattles and combs. Rhode Island Blue | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens Great read, thank you for the perspective! Color Varieties That term is effectively and routinely used when referring to livestock, be it individuals or a group. Its natural to have a rooster with your hens, and many of us become curators of cantankerous roosters by accident. Rhode Island Red hens will often start laying eggs at 18-20 weeks though a few will begin at 16 weeks old. You will not get a breed of only roosters, so it is incorrect to refer to a rooster as a breed. Sex-linked chickens are crossbred hybrids, producingthe desirable traits of both parent breeds (such as egg color, egg production, or meat production). Large roosters are imposing, but the larger they go, the more tame and inattentive they tend to be. I enjoy working with them. They develop spurs around 6 . Hens dont need a rooster in the flock to lay eggs, but they do need a rooster in the flock to lay fertile eggs. A convenient benefit is male and female chicks are different colors. When you had 7 roos how many hens. Although both hens and roosters can grow wattles and combs, Rhode Island Red roosters grow their wattles and combs much earlier than hens, from around 6-8 weeks old. Their body will more rounded and curvier than the boys. However once you learn these simple differences between a rooster and a hen it will be much easier for you to spot the difference. The only way to know for sure is to buy sexed chicks, or watch them grow and determine it by their behavior. They start growing at around three months. She will lay eggs all by herself. Breeds include the Bovan Nera (sometimes called Black Rocks or Black Stars) in which Rhode Island Reds are crossed with Barred Plymouth Rocks. If there is any apparent danger they will round up your hens and shepherd them away from the danger. In this article we will teach you how to tell a rooster from a hen with simple explanations and images. Youll notice that Rhode Island Red roosters stand more upright, at about 20-22 inches in height, weighing about 15 pounds. I would separate him and the Rhode Island Blue hen and let them hatch out their eggs. I know my breeds and am proud of what I keep & breed. Prolific Egg Layers This cross results in combination blue, red and black chickens. Table of Contents As chicks Golden Comet Roosters will be white, whereas hens will be a brownish color. When slow-feathering females are crossed with fast-feathering males, the male offspring are slow-feathering like their mother, and the female offspring are fast-feathering like their fathers, notes Dr. Jacquie Jacob from the University of Kentucky. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The Crevecoeur of France is often black but can be found in blue. Blue Copper Maran7. Rhode Island Red Hen Vs. Rooster (With Pictures!) - Backyard Farm Life Silver Laced Wyandotte Hen Vs. Rooster (Differences - With Pictures!) The female at this time is called a pullet, while the male is known as a cockerel. On young roosters, the tail feathers are rounded, a little pointy, and not well-defined. Plymouth Rock chickens are a heritage breed. Whether youre interested in backyard chickens, exhibition birds, or even production birds, there is a blue one out there for you! They grow in towards the opposing leg and can grow to several inches long. Once your hens are mature enough to start laying eggs there will be some behavioral changes to note. Hes missing a doodle in there,someoneonce observed. I have found that my roosters are often the chicks that were the most easily handled and didn't mind being cuddled. 12. Splash chickens bred together will always produce splash chicks. 10 Best Chicken Breeds to Keep in California. Some of the breeds used to refine the desired hen include Java, Light Brahma, Brown Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, and Chinese Cochin. I hatched it myself, & dont remember what it looked like as a chick. Keep them coming! I have 3 regular size hens and 2 bantam hens 2 bantam roosters all sweet. Hes much bigger with a big comb and wattle. Many cities have been coming around to the whole backyard chicken movement, passing zoning rules to allow their residents some leeway. My frustration also exists at this point because way too many people love to jump on the hate bandwagon these days like they are still in high school and have an emotional reaction to everything they dont agree with and try to incite an emotional reaction from those they are hating on. When startled by a noise, boys pull themselves up and issue a warming peep, whereas girls usually crouch down and stay silent. Your best rooster breed for hatching meat-worthy chickens from your flock will not be a commercial meat bird. Regardless of local rules, if you have neighbors close to you or your coop, will they take issue with a rooster next door? A flock of a *breed of chickens*, male & female, can. You could be forgiven for thinking there are two roosters and a hen. When it comes to a family pet; Sebrights, Old English, and Belgian bantams can be great fun and easy keepers. Black Star Chicken: Learn All About This Super Star Layer They will continue playing until their fourth or fifth years. Learn about the different roles of the hen and roosters and you will become a great chicken mom or dad. In places where keeping chickens is not allowed, you might begin to deal with noise complaints at this time. Your email address will not be published. Vent sexing can cause serious injury or death if done incorrectly, so this technique is best left to the professionals. We do want chicks but we do not want an aggressive rooster that attacks us; weve had that and we had to dispose of him. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Genetics Behind BlueChicken Breeds with BlueThe Most Common Blue Chicken Breeds1. The secret to being able to tell a rooster from a hen is practice and patience. Rhode Island Red ~ Prolific Layers and Easy to Raise | Chickens In breeds with pronounced combs and wattles (and not all breeds have these traits), little roosters already have larger and redder attributesthan pullets by four to six weeks of age. This muted color provides natural camouflage for the hen when she has to sit on her eggs. Now I know where to start looking. They recognize Ameraucana, American Game, Andalusian, Newer breeds or hybrids that come in blue include the Blue Rock and, Blue Copper Marans is a blue version of the standard, Blue Rocks are actually a first-generation cross between the normal barred, Rhode Island Blues are another hybrid, but this time they mixed a, The Sapphire Olive Egger is a hybrid blue, As you can see there are an unimaginable number of, 17 Best Blue Chicken Breeds for Your Flock. But do you really want to spend $25 per chick to determine the gender? They were also the first to investigate anything new in the brooder, while the pullets were more timid. Blue Rocks are actually a first-generation cross between the normal barred Plymouth Rock and a Blue Andalusian. Egg laying is reserved solely for the hens. TheWelsummerbreed has differences in striping between males and females, accurate to about 90% (with experience). 2023, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, Its another thing to deal with Why does your rooster crow outside my bedroom window! Can you locate the coop farther away from your neighbors? I have Delaware hens who are a bit more than two years old and are still very productive. Just because is a valid reason, albeit a vague one. I doubt anyone thinks there is a breed of chicken that is comprised solely of roosters. Water not only helps them to remain healthy, but it also means they keep providing you with a regular flow of fresh eggs. Sometimes, a rooster does a little dance for the hen to squat for him to mate. Unless you have a professional chickensexeron hand, dont count your roosters until they crow or lay eggs. Roosters will be larger than hens. They are consistent and prolific egg layers, with good ones laying 200-300 eggs per year, which converts to 5-6 eggs per week. The flock and the keeper love to forage, and the rooster is always on guard for trouble. Rhode Island Red Hen vs Rooster How to Tell the Difference? Blue does work on colors other than black, though. The black sex-link (also known as Rock Reds) is produced by crossing a barred hen with a non-barred rooster. At this time, male chicks will also try crowing, unlike females. When a rooster is among the hens he will be watchful and will rarely eat until the ladies have finished. They recognize Ameraucana, American Game, Andalusian, Araucana, Belgian dAnver, Belgian dUccle, Booted, Cochin, Cornish, Dutch, Faverolle, Japanese, Langshan, Leghorn, Modern, Naked Neck, Old English, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Polish, Rosecomb, Silkie, Spanish Sultan, Sumatra, Watermaal, and Wyandotte. Blue Dutch Bantams are a great choice if you want a friendly little bird that has good mothering instincts and lovely blue feathers. What should I do? Rhode Island Blues are a hybrid crossing two of the best layers - the Rhode Island Red and the Australorp. The Bantam 4 (duccles) are keen to attack anything that menaces their hens, and are mostly happy to be hand-fed treats when there is no danger. Newer breeds or hybrids that come in blue include the Blue Rock and Whiting True Blue. Once she has started laying eggs the other hens seem to accept her as one of them and will become a bit less stand-offish with her. Blue Jersey Giant9. All Rights Reserved. Someautosexbreeds also have different-colored genders at hatching. One of the most successful chicken breeds worldwide is the Rhode Island Red. Required fields are marked *. And this articles intended audience is chicken people who already know that. Most of the French-type birds have lightly feathered legs, which is what the APA requires for show birds. He will be watchful among hens and rarely eat until the hens are done. When out ranging the hens will talk softly among themselves. Blue Rocks and Rhode Island Blues - BackYard Chickens It can be very difficult to tell a rooster from a hen as a chick. Although it seems the hens rely on the rooster for food and safety, they are not helpless little creatures. Other layers of large brown eggs include the Delaware, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Rhode Island White, and Sussex. Reactions: MysteryChicken. Remember, size does matter. They fall on the sides in a waterfall shape. Whether you have kept chickens for years, or are just starting out on your chicken journey. Hearing a faint crow from afar may be charming to your neighbor. Blue Breasted Red Old English5. Grown pullets, or hens, are black with red mixed in their neck hackle feathers. That said, he was also undersized and easy to handle. Like with most chicken breeds, the first clue helping you to spot the difference between a Rhode Island Red hen and a rooster comes down to its size, stature, and body shape. If your young rooster is being aggressive toward any hens, that is a sign that he will be more trouble than help. 17 Best Blue Chicken Breeds for Your Flock But the one is definitely the dominant one. If you are looking for an egg laying powerhouse then the Plymouth Rock is the hen for you. Ask the Expert December 2014/January 2015. A number of different crosses can produce red sex-links. These feathers give the rooster that typical rooster look of high curved tail feathers. After hatching, your chicks will undergo several changes that might indicate their sex before maturity. Silkie Hen Vs. Rooster: How To Tell The Difference (With Pictures!) He will be watchful among hens and rarely eat until the hens are done. Ive already covered why in my reply to another flamer. They are good mothers, but they are not cold-hardy at all! The article was somewhat helpful to me. Understanding Sex-Link Hybrid Chickens - Backyard Poultry These are long, pointed neck feathers that flow down into the back. Roosters dont. If he is a subordinate rooster then he will look to the alpha rooster for cues and direction. Even for someone with very little chicken knowledge, you can kind of guess it. These are similar to hackle feathers in that they drop gracefully either side of the tail feathers adding a look of seamless feathering. Also a father and son duo but Im quite sure the Easter Egger rooster killed most of them over the years, I thought something else happened until I caught him attacking the Brahma. How To Tell A Rooster From A Hen: 5 Easy Differences Explained The most accurate way to sex chicks is to watch them grow, concludes Extension.org, and those are wise words. I good rooster can become your right hand man out in the coop, but a bad rooster can really be a terror to both the people and the hens. You will not find rooster listed as one of the breeds. Rhode Island Blues are considered large fowl and are similar in stature and size to Rhode Island Reds, with roosters weighing in at around 8lbs, and hens weighing in at around 6lbs. However sex-linked birds will not breed true. If you cross a red snapdragon with a white one you get pink because the offspring only have one copy of each gene. Any suggestions for a good semi-docile rooster that would be a good meat bird for breeding. Usually the bigger the bird, the more laid back their chichenality is. Bantam roosters can make great pets, and if handled a lot, can be amazingly docile. Pullets are also generally smaller than cockerels. This should make it easier for you to tell a rooster from a hen. Many poultry breeders know this and would roll their eyes at these replies I keep getting over a simple comment on grammar. Rhode Island Blue Chickens: 5 Things You Didn't Know The best place to find breeds that are recognized in blue would be your, The current recognized large fowl with blue are. In the fun of getting tiny fluffy chicks, its hard to imagine a timetheywont be welcomeinthe barnyard (or backyard). . Friendly, curious. Frustratingly, this technique of feather sexing does not work with purebred chickens. They are still uniquely feathered and make amazing mothers! They come in black, white, splash, and sometimes blue colors. May 31, 2018 39,201 79,042 This cross results in combination blue, red and black chickens. RIR hens produce medium to large eggs that are light brown in color. OMG! It's a Roo! How to Tell if You Have a Hen or a Rooster The color of their feathers is usually more subdued than the boys too. Other colors include blue wheaten, blue breasted red, blue golden duckwing, blue silver duckwing, lemon blue, and even blue Colombian. When he finds something tasty for the hens he will draw their attention to it by making a tuk sound to tell them he has found something interesting for them. it looks like a roo, but acts like a hen. In theoryroostersflap and struggle while hens just dangle. Although both Rhode Island Red hens and roosters are gorgeous souls, if youre raising them yourself, you dont want too many roosters, if any depending on the requirements of your flock! This breed also varies in terms of size, from the smaller, less popular bantam chickens to the bigger Rhode Island Red hen and Rhode Island Red rooster, which can weigh 6.5 lbs and 8.5 lbs, respectively. The most obvious and tell-tale sign you can tell youve got a male is by monitoring the growth of the wattle and comb. If you chicken has high curved sickle feathers they are a rooster. Roosters will have bigger feet and sturdier legs. Because its a roosters duty to protect their flock and dominate their hens, they need to grow bigger and stronger and develop better weapons to fight off predators. Ameraucana Hen vs Rooster - How to Tell the Difference?