Cochin - hen or rooster? Update: Pics added

[TheRidingLibrarian]

Haven't been on in a few weeks myself, but have been spreading the gospel that is Backyard Chickens to anyone who will listen.

Anybutteringup, have a question...my "Exotic Layers" from McMurray are about 18 weeks old now. I have three Cochins, one "blonde" (forgive my ignorance of the proper name), one black, and my personal favorite "Fluffy" who is predominately white, but with a speckling of feathers in all shades of grey and even a few brown. A really weird color combo. Anyshortstorylong, I have noticed that Fluffy is acting very Roo-ish, mounting and all. I also notice that she/he has a very pronunced comb and wattle (? the red part that hangs down under the beak) Neither parts are as big as the comb on an old Rhode Island Red I had, but both other Cochins (Mae West and Chewbaca) have nearly none in comparison. Fluffy does not have spurs though.

So what do you think? I always thought spurs were the deal breaker, no spurs, not a rooster. I know that if you have no rooster, sometimes one hen will take over the role...but the fact that Fluffy has a much more pronounced comb and wattle has me wondering.

Edited to add pics:
Here is Fluffy - A Roo or Dominate Hen? What do you think?

And a pic of Mae West for comparison.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!
Patti

 

[jessica117]

Cochins tend to be slower to develop so the spurs may not show up till a little later. My guys didn't have much of a spur to speak of until almost the 2nd year of their lives.

Hope this helps!

 

[TheRidingLibrarian]

Interesting!

I certianly would not mind if Fluffy was a Roo.
I'll post a pic tonight of all three of them.

 

[KinderKorner]

I'm pretty sure it's a rooster by your description.

But yes. Roosters usually don't get spurs until around or after they are a year old.

 

[racuda]

Quote:
But they crow well before that.

 

[TheRidingLibrarian]

Bump for the update...didn't realize it didn't bump it when you edited the original post.

 

[KinderKorner]

But they crow well before that.

Not always. Only my most dominate male in each flock actually crows. My little 2 month banty cochin crows, but my 6 month old SLW roo doesn't.


Also by the look of your pictures, yes Fluffy is a rooster.​

 

[ChooksChick]

I thought I'd add to this: Hens can get spurs. I'm not sure if it's more likely with any specific breeds, but I have a Barred Rock hen with ONE spur, and I've heard of lots of others.

Buff is the name of the blonde color, btw.

 

[TheRidingLibrarian]

Chooks: What? You don't like me calling her blonde??

Just teasing. Thank you, I've been wondering what the real color names were. While we're at it, what do you call Fluffy's color?

 

[warmfuzzies]

Rooster, and a very pretty one!