It can be hard to tell which birds are hens and which ones are roosters when you hatch a brood of chicks, buy straight-run chicks, or even buy sexed chicks. Chickens have a 50/50 gender ratio, which means that about 2050% of fertile eggs will hatch as roosters and 2050% will hatch as hens.
Usually, when baby chicks first hatch, there aren’t many accurate ways to tell what gender they are, and there isn’t a 100% proven method that always works. However, as they mature, there are some tell-tale characteristics to be on the lookout for when identifying if you have roosters, hens, or a mixture of both in your flock! We will cover how to spot the signs of a rooster or a hen as your chickens grow and mature.
Determining the sex of young chickens can be a tricky endeavor for backyard chicken keepers. While adult roosters and hens have distinct physical differences, distinguishing their gender in the early growth stages takes some careful observation and detective work. But have no fear – this guide will walk you through the key signs and timeline for identifying whether your young chickens are pullets (juvenile hens) or cockerels (juvenile roosters).
When Does Gender Differentiation Begin?
You’ll typically start to see telltale signs of gender emerging when chickens are between 4 and 10 weeks old. During this period, certain characteristics like comb growth become more pronounced in juvenile males. On the other hand, pullets tend to develop more slowly and show less prominent gender-specific features early on.
That said, there are a few exceptions. Some autosexing breeds can be identified at hatching due to distinct color patterns linked to their sex. Additionally, crowing may start as early as 8-12 weeks in some particularly precocious cockerels. But for most backyard chickens, the 4 to 10 week range is when you’ll begin noticing key differences between pullets and cockerels.
Physical Attributes to Look For
Here are some of the top physical characteristics to observe in order to identify juvenile roosters:
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Comb and wattle development: A cockerel’s combs and wattles will get bigger and turn bright red more quickly. This is usually clear around 6 to 8 weeks. Pullets show slower development in these areas.
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Saddle and hackle feathers: Long, pointed saddle and hackle (neck) feathers emerge on juvenile roosters around 9-12 weeks. Pullet feathers remain short and rounded.
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Tail feathers: By two to three months old, cockerels may have sickle feathers, which are long, arched tail feathers that make them stand out.
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Leg size: Thicker legs and feet are typical of juvenile roosters.
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Spur growth: Around 3 months old, cockerels may get small spurs that stick out. Pullet spurs don’t usually develop until much later.
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Body size and shape: Cockerels are often larger-bodied with bigger heads. Pullets appear petite in comparison.
As your young chickens get bigger, you can start to figure out if they are cockerels or pullets by looking at these details about their bodies.
Behavioral Differences
In addition to physical tells. behavior can also provide hints about your chickens’ sex
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Boldness Cockerels are typically braver and more overtly curious. Pullets are more cautious
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Response to surprises: When startled, cockerels may stand tall and issue a warning peep. Pullets are more likely to crouch down silently.
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Interactions: Cockerels tend to spar and chest bump more aggressively with flockmates.
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Posture: Cockerels stand more upright. Pullets may do a submissive squat when approached.
The Moment of Truth
While the above signs allow educated guesses, two behaviors offer surefire confirmation:
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Crowing: Most cockerels begin crowing around 12-16 weeks of age. This is a clear giveaway! However, a small percentage of pullets may crow too, so other signs should also be considered.
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Egg laying: Typically starting around 18-24 weeks old, the first egg laid definitively indicates you have a pullet. Roosters are unable to lay eggs.
In Summary
Identifying juvenile chicken gender takes careful sleuthing, but becomes easier as you learn their unique physical and behavioral characteristics. While the 4 to 10 week range is when obvious differences emerge, allow until 12-16 weeks for more certainty based on crowing and other mature features. If you can wait until point of lay around 18-24 weeks, that first egg will solve the mystery! With practice, you’ll become an expert at deducing whether your flock’s youngsters are pullets or cockerels.
How to Tell Hens from Rooster in 8 Popular Chicken Breeds
While the tips above for sexing both adult chickens and young chickens work for any chicken breed. However, some chicken breeds have some unique features that can more easily help you determine a rooster from a hen.
Some easy ways to tell the difference between roosters and hens at a young age are given below.
# Polish Rooster vs Hen
Polish chickens are another breed of chicken that can be tricky to sex at a young age. Noticing differences between the roosters and hens as they mature is harder and the chicks may need to grow for longer before you can see any noticeably different traits.
The combs and wattles of Polish roosters will get bigger and more red, while those of Polish hens will get smaller and more white. Polish roosters will also grow longer tail feathers and be overall bigger and heavier than a Polish hen.
You can also observe how the crest on a young Polish chicken grows to determine the bird’s sex:
- Roosters: They are more rectangular
- Hens: A rounded & tight crest
The DIFFERENCE Between ROOSTERS And HENS
FAQ
What are the first signs your chicken is a rooster?
It’s likely that chicks that are bigger, stockier, have thicker legs, and start to get a bigger comb and wattles are roosters. Chicks that are smaller and who have shorter, more petite legs will more than likely be hens. Roosters will also carry themselves more upright than hens.
At what age can I tell a hen from a rooster?
Combs
How do you tell if a chicken is turning into a rooster?
Growing Pointed Saddle Feathers: When her feathers grew back, they were pointed saddle feathers, which meant she was becoming an adult male chicken. Her hackles and tail feathers had also undergone some major changes. “She went from being your typical hen to a rooster with beautiful, long tail feathers and pointy hackles.
What age do chickens become roosters?
Roosters reach sexual maturity at 4-6 months and, if housed together (even if they are siblings) they will start fighting to establish dominance in their pecking order, to claim territory, or to take over a flock.
How do you know if a chicken is a rooster or hen?
There are a few different ways you can tell if a chicken is a rooster or hen depending on the age of the bird. It gets easier as chickens grow up, and once a chicken is mature it becomes very easy to tell the difference when you know what you’re looking for!
What is the difference between a rooster and a female chicken?
Female chickens are called hens, and male chickens are called roosters. It’s important to note that roosters and hens are very different in the roles they play in a flock. Although, it’s not always easy for the untrained eye to tell the difference – especially when a chick is young.
How do you know if a rooster or hen is crowing?
This is the final, almost foolproof way to tell what you have a hen or a rooster. At some point, a rooster will start crowing…and the sound is unmistakeable. Yes, some hens may mimic the crowing sound, but I haven’t observed it in young birds. And even with my mature hens, their “egg song” is not really the same as a rooster’s crow.
When do rooster chicks start growing?
When rooster chicks are about 9 to 12 weeks old, they begin growing longer, pointy saddle feathers. By contrast, hen feathers usually remain uniform, short, and blunt. Another method involves examining your chicks’ wing plumage. Males typically have coverts and primaries of even lengths. Meanwhile, females display irregular or alternating lengths.
How do you tell a rooster that you are above him?
You want to let your rooster know that YOU are above him in the pecking order. Male chicks tend to stand up taller, more upright, than female chicks. Both male and female chicks will chest bump, but when they get a little bit older and do this, a males long, pointed hackle feathers will stand up and be much more noticeable.
What do Roosters look like?
Hackle feathers are the feathers that cover a chicken’s neck. On roosters, hackle feathers are pointy. On hens, hackle feathers are round. 5. Leg Size Roosters often have thicker legs and larger feet, compared to hens of the same breed.