Black Australorps boys or girls?

[WhisperingWinds]

I have 6 Blacks that are about 3 months old... I think they are mostly all roo's
I have one who I think is a hen, just by the noises she makes, the way her body looks, tail feathers...
(I have NO experience with chickens, these are my first ever!) so my thoughts, are just "gut feelings"... lol

I am wondering can someone with real knowledge about these black australorps, tell me some good differences to look for between hens and roos?




This is the one I have a feeling is a hen

 

[kcaywood]

Hi, I think the questionable bird is a rooster. I say this because of its tail feathers that drape down, and the pointed-looking hackles (neck feathers.) Hens have hackles with rounded, not pointed, tips. Also, the birds comb and wattles are too red and developed for a three-month old hen.

Hope that's helpful - good luck!

 

[WhisperingWinds]

Also, does anyone know why some of the blacks have kind of yellowish legs/feet, with black on them, and some of them have completely black legs/feet ??

 

[willowbranchfarm]

The reason they might have yellow legs is they might be not good quality. In the top picture all of them look like rooster except the one in the very middle with its tail pointed down and greenish yellow legs. I cant tell the gender on that one.

Thigs to look for are...

Saddle Feathers
Hackle Feathers
Big combs and wattles
There tail feathers
and of course crowing or laying an egg lol.

 

[akcountrygrrl]

Both of the birds in the second picture are roos (yep, the one with just the tail showing is a roo. You can see the pointy saddle feathers across the back right in front of the tail). The other one is also sporting long, pointy saddle and hackle feathers. They are not purebred Australorps either. They shouldn't have any color on them other than black. Their legs should be black/slate with pink feet bottoms.

 

[Hezz]

I would have to say they are all roos. The two that you speak of having yellow feet, they are probably Jersey Giants. Aussie's have a pinkish white/fleshy color on the bottoms of their feet, whereas Jersey Giants have yellow on the bottoms of their feet.

Your guys have pointy hackle feathers, they also have the pointy saddle feathers coming in, and their tail feathers are long and starting to get that curl, not to mention the size and redness of the combs and wattles.

 

[BayGoose]

I agree, the one in the second pic looks like a rooster, not a hen. My black australorp hens are also 3 months and they don't have a comb quite that large. His tail looks rooish as well.

 

[hdowden]

i see a bunch of cockerels...i think 8 in the first pic (that includes the 2 ee cockerels/roosters)

look at the hackles (neck feathers) and the saddles (feathers at the base of the tail). in the pic with the cockerel (2nd pic) you can see the nice saddles on him. these feathers will be slinder and pointed unlike a pullets whos will be fatter and rounded on the ends.

 

[KatD]

When they are five or six months old you will know. The roosters will develop more prominent wattles and combs. Also they will be aggressive and crow. Next year you will recognize them sooner. some folks don't realize that hens have wattles too. Surprise! Your black Australorps are pretty.

 

[spikennipper]

This thread is 2 years old I think they probably know by now