Help sexing 3.5month old Buff Orpington. Hen or Roo?

[Tinolasilkie]

Hi! I’m a newbie here and fairly new in raising chickens. And this is Beeyo, my 3.5month old Buff Orpington, can you help me determine if she’s a She or He? I always thought she was a hen until this morning my husband told me he heard her crow, so I’m doubting now. Thanks in advance!

 

[sourland]

Looks like a cockerel to me.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Definitely a cockerel and looks like he’s been fighting another male

 

[Tinolasilkie]

Oh, So I was wrong all along. Thank you so much for responding, so far, all my guesses are incorrect in gendering our chickens. Can you share how can you tell that he’s a cockerel? so that I can determine them correctly next time.

However, your last statement might not be possible since he only have one other adult chicken companion here which is a silkie hen, and I am certain of that because she’s been laying eggs, I am just wondering how you say that? Does my chicken look like he’s in fighter mode?

PS, it’s my first time to raise chickens on my own, I’m a real newbie.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC!
Looks like a cockerel to me.
If you'd like, post a close up of his comb in This forum, and someone might be able to help with his comb.

 

[Tinolasilkie]

Welcome to BYC!
Looks like a cockerel to me.
If you'd like, post a close up of his comb in This forum, and someone might be able to help with his comb.

Thank you for the warm welcome!
alright, I’ll take a pic of his comb

 

[Twilia]

Oh, So I was wrong all along. Thank you so much for responding, so far, all my guesses are incorrect in gendering our chickens. Can you share how can you tell that he’s a cockerel? so that I can determine them correctly next time.

However, your last statement might not be possible since he only have one other adult chicken companion here which is a silkie hen, and I am certain of that because she’s been laying eggs, I am just wondering how you say that? Does my chicken look like he’s in fighter mode?

PS, it’s my first time to raise chickens on my own, I’m a real newbie.

His comb is a dead giveaway, and his size

Some folks use plumage. I sex by facial features in chicks.
But sometimes it's really just recognizing things from experience. If you are interested, try hanging around the Breed/gender forums and you may pick up an identifying skill.

Check out these articles on roo behavior, I thought these may interest you:

Understanding Your Rooster.

The reader needs to be aware that these observations and conclusions are taken from a particular chicken keeping arrangement which was conceived to be as close as practicable to the living arrangements of the chickens' ancestors, the jungle fowl, in order to study the chicken's natural behavior...

• Shadrach
• Jun 6, 2019
• 4.85 star(s) 89 ratings
• Comments: 36
• Reviews: 75
• Category: Maintaining A Healthy Flock

Ask about Roosters: How to Deal with Aggression, Explained.

After realizing the need for clarity, I decided to create an article for those of you who have roos with behavior issues, those thinking about adding one to your flock, or if you are just curious since the issue is natural to come up for each of us in even the most docile of males. It is...

• Twilia
• Mar 21, 2025
• 4.00 star(s) 2 ratings
• Comments: 3
• Reviews: 2
• Category: Member Pages

_Twilia;-)

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Oh, So I was wrong all along. Thank you so much for responding, so far, all my guesses are incorrect in gendering our chickens. Can you share how can you tell that he’s a cockerel? so that I can determine them correctly next time.

At his age, the comb and wattles are very developed, which is an obvious sign of a cockerel. Saddle and hackle feathers on cockerels are pointy and shiny, though i think these are only obvious at around 10 weeks, not sure though. Hanging around this forum, and looking at others chickens and what people guess is how i learnt.

However, your last statement might not be possible since he only have one other adult chicken companion here which is a silkie hen, and I am certain of that because she’s been laying eggs, I am just wondering how you say that? Does my chicken look like he’s in fighter mode?

Its most likely the apparent injury on his comb and face that made the other user think that.
Also, one cockerel to one hen is not a great ratio, once he grows up he will probably over-mate and injure her.

PS, it’s my first time to raise chickens on my own, I’m a real newbie.

 

[sean_wonder]

Welcome to BYC! Cockerel for sure. Some people are saying it looks like he's been fighting because it seems like he has some bruising on his comb.

There are many ways to tell if a chicken is a hen or a roo. The size and color of his comb & wattles at his age, the size of his legs, and the shape of his hackle and saddle feathers can indicate male. I suggest looking up some pictures or guides-- there's many!

 

[sean_wonder]

Also, one cockerel to one hen is not a great ratio, once he grows up he will probably over-mate and injure her.

Oh, yes, wanted to add generally its 10 hens per rooster.