Rooster or hen? Cuckoo Orpington

[Jen81]

Hi I bought 2 cuckoo Orpington hens that were sold to me as POL around 5 months of age.

I’ve had them for 2 weeks and am starting to notice one is growing larger than the other and is showing some behaviour that could indicate it’s a rooster. Not crowing though. It’s taken a particular liking to a Sussex hen I have, tries to mount it (not sure if it’s trying to mate or assert dominance) and is growing some metallic blue coloured feathers. Some of the feather compared to the other hen are long and pointed.

I’m new to chicken ownership and would really love some help.

Pics 1, 2 and 3. The chicken in question. Excuse the photo bomb lol
Pics 4 and 5. The other smaller hen

 

[Logar]

It looks to be a cockerel. Sorry! I wouldn’t buy from the person who sold them to you again as it should be obvious by then on their sex (fully on them, sexing chickens can be hard when you are first getting into chickens).

 

[CoopBoots]

Following to learn. I'm not an expert but I definitely thought both were pullets myself at first... I see the saddle feathers in picture 3 though. The barring hides them pretty well, but there they are...

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Both of them look to have the lighter barring that happens in cockerels. Pullets have one copy of the barring gene, and appear darker than cockerels, which have two copies. I would not be surprised if these are much younger than advertised, and both cockerels.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Rooster! And a beautiful one!

 

[Jen81]

It looks to be a cockerel. Sorry! I wouldn’t buy from the person who sold them to you again as it should be obvious by then on their sex (fully on them, sexing chickens can be hard when you are first getting into chickens).

Thank you. I have returned them today. I don’t think it was intentional I think she is more of a hobby breeder with limited knowledge/experience. But I don’t think I’ll buy from her again anyway.