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Pullet or Cockerel?

Back in April we bought 3 RI Red pullets, and now they are 15 weeks old. Up until the last week or so, they've been wonderful. Calm and sweet, easygoing, etc... However, my favorite of the three, Fiona, has been acting up lately. She has always been great. The first to come running when we came in to the yard, would hop on on your knee when you told her to, just a nice chicken. About a week or two ago, she started getting really aggressive. Now when I come in to feed them or whatever, she is on the attack. Pecking and biting, rushing at me, chasing me, etc. Annoying! My daughter won't even go near the chicken yard anymore.
So I find myself wondering... could she be a rooster?
Her comb does seem to be quite a bit redder than the other 2 RI reds... and her tail feathers seem a little longer... Agh! Are there any other clues that might point out what sex she is?

I'd love Fiona to be a nice little laying hen, but if this keeps up, she's going in the pot!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on July 15, 2010 at 12:49pm

Do you have a photo of her/him? I have read great suggestions that if you have an aggressive rooster, you can "re train" them by taking their place as the alpha roo. (behaving like YOU are the top roo will make the aggressive roo the lower status in the flock, and thus less aggressive. Sounds like you may have a SHREK instead of Fiona!! lol Share a photo. I may be able to help a little more.

Permalink Reply by Emily on July 20, 2010 at 7:46pm

Is she larger? We got two straight runs with our 6 pullets this year and ended up with one cockerel (exactly as planned) They're 3 and a half months old and starting about a month ago we noticed that one was as big as our year olds--waaay out of the ball park of the others. He also had a comb the size of the older hens almost...

Our first year having chickens we thought some of our day old pullets were growing into roosters, but turns out they just had slightly larger combs.

Permalink Reply by Meredith Cope on July 20, 2010 at 10:35pm

She seems to be a bit better now, of course maybe it's the fact that I've been carrying a shovel with me... not to whack her with, just to deter her from getting within biting distance. They are due to start laying in the next 4-6 weeks... maybe it's like PMS or something? :)

Permalink Reply by Angie on August 1, 2010 at 12:27pm

If Fiona was a rooster you would know it by now, she would be crowing. Are her tail feathers pointed up or down? If they are down, she is a rooster. RIR are in my opinion jerks, i HAD 2, they were very mean to my other chickens.

Permalink Reply by Meredith Cope on August 1, 2010 at 2:52pm

Seriously! My RI Reds were the sweetest when they were young, but now that they're about to lay, they're pretty mean.

Fiona's tail feathers point up, so I think she's just a hen with pms. :)

Angie said:

If Fiona was a rooster you would know it by now, she would be crowing. Are her tail feathers pointed up or down? If they are down, she is a rooster. RIR are in my opinion jerks, i HAD 2, they were very mean to my other chickens.

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on August 1, 2010 at 11:42pm

I don't really agree with that one... As a first time chicken owner, I overlooked a LOT of (now) obvious signs that I had a Barred Rock Roo. It wasn't until he crowed that I couldn't avoid the truth. lol A photo would really help. I know what I'm looking for now.

Angie said:

If Fiona was a rooster you would know it by now, she would be crowing. Are her tail feathers pointed up or down? If they are down, she is a rooster. RIR are in my opinion jerks, i HAD 2, they were very mean to my other chickens.

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