About 1.5 weeks ago I took baby chick photos, which you can see here. We then left for a little vacation and we came back to find the chickens are growing like weeds! And one chicken in particular, Ms. Apple, sprouted a comb and wattle (the things hanging under her beak). Her comb and wattle are MUCH bigger than any of the other chickens.
I’m a little paranoid she’s a rooster. Or maybe this is just how Rhode Island Red hens look around five weeks? When I shared my 2-week baby photos, I was worried my Leghorn was a rooster, but her comb isn’t nearly as big now. Can you tell I’m a little paranoid? I don’t think we’d be able to keep a rooster in our neighborhood, so I’m hoping they are all hens.
This was her just over a week ago! Crazy how quickly they change!
And here she is at one week. Or should I say he?
Have you ever purchased baby chicks and one turned out to be a rooster? Do you think my dear Apple is a rooster?
That’s definitely a boy!
I think apple is a boy
I had the same problems with my Rhode Island Reds I bought them from my friend about six weeks so they all look the same no distinct markings all of a sudden they get six months old and I have one with a super large waffle and crown but no signs of it being a rooster I do not see it being active during the day hanging with the hands so I’m confused as well I do have a rooster that you can definitely tell by the size and the spurs
How many hens should you have to one rooster I got 4 rir about 3 1/2 weeks ago and I think I have more rooster than hens but I really can’t tell i know one of them has a big tall cone on his head one of them is short and really fuffy but they fight I’m not sure if it’s fighting r play I just wanted hens but I will take one rooster can any body help me if u send pictures I have really grown attacked to them I want to keep all if them but I know u can’t keep all roosters plz help thanks
Hi:) I’ve read it’s best to have at least 5/6 hens for every rooster. If you live in a residential area you can get your rooster a no crow collar which should keep it from waking your neighbors. Best of luck to you and your feathered friends!
Yes. Unfortunately….which is making me re think my Lucky! She looks just like your Apple at 4 weeks. She’s 4 weeks now. I’m now thinking in a week she might be a he! Although,were on a farm and we want another RIR Roo. God bless!!
k flame my one rode island is starting to look a bit like the pic here ….. i was told they had a female garenntee when i replace my turkey my sex link attacked should i get a replacement rode iland as im suposed to be able to get a free rode island to be in place of the roo if so ?
my sex link im pretty sure is a boy just not fully developed yet ..as arent girls solid black jw as this one has gold tips on neck feathers
Just found your blog. Great pics. We just got four RIR (well, actually they are production reds) chics, now a little over 4 weeks old. None have started to grow an comb or waddles at this point. Did you ever figure out of Ms Apple was a hen or rooster? In the pics you have here she looks just a like a hen I had when I was much younger.
Thank you
Hello, Heather, I also have a RIR(Cuddles), looking JUST like Apple here, we got baby Cuddles about nine weeks ago, he/ she has much rougher feathers than our other RIR’s. Also sprouting a red comb and wattle, but no long tail. We can’t have roosters here, so I am very worried we might have to find him a new home. Can I get your E-mail address to send you a photo? It would be appreciated greatly, and please reply, this is urgent.
Thanks so much!!
Did she turn out as a he, is have an rir who I am unsure of
Well, i guess you’ve figured out by now that apple is a he. It really is pretty easy to tell when you know what to look for. The neck feathers are a dead give away. On a roo you will have noticeably dark feathers ( saddle area) a hen will have no color variation.
hello everyone
i just bought three red island rhodes the other day, and I’m worried, because we are not allowed roosters in our area. I kind of want to know now, for I could get a ticket. The chicks are about 1 week old. Please help me anyone. If you want, I can post a picture.
Thx
We just got our first chicks about 4 months ago, about 18 weeks, and we have one that has a much larger and redder comb and wattle than the others, as well. However, she is for sure a hen because in the past two days she has laid 2 eggs!!!! 4 months old and already laying! For our hen, her quickly developing wattle and comb meant that she was developing faster all over, apparently. The eggs are teensy so far. About half the size of a store bought large egg. I hope they get bigger over time and that her early development hasn’t stunted her growth in anyway. I guess time will tell. Maybe the same thing is happening with your Apple?
I just stumbled upon your blog and love it! I need to add a chicken post to my blog. My husband and I bought three chicks, a Sex link, barred rock, and buff orpington. It turned out my sex link hen is a rhode island red rooster (at least I think it’s an RIR). He is now 13 weeks old, with growing waddles and comb. I was in denial up until a week ago when I discovered his shiny green roo tail feathers growing. I live in Atlanta and luckily they allow you to have roosters (I’m in city limits too!). Richard Parker is also my favorite (perhaps I jinxed him with his boyish name) and I plan on keeping him until he starts to crow (5-6months old) and go from there. If he is a quiet crower maybe the neighbors won’t mind… We shall see! Richard Parker looked identical to your Apple at 1 week old! I will send you my link when I finally get my post up. Good luck!
Would love to see an updated pic of the hen/roo in question. 🙂
Here are some! http://queenbeetoday.com/baby-chicken-update-8-weeks-old-getting-so-big/
We haven’t heard a “crow” yet! Hoping we don’t.
It is really hard to tell. Last summer I had some silky mixes, and one morning as I’m on the deck drinking coffee, I heard this weird crowing.
It was still kinda dark and thought, Oh no! My neighbors rooster came over. We live in the country, Well it wasn’t. One of my silky teenagers was a He. He caused all sorts of problems in the henhouse
I posted him on criagslist (not for food), and a great woman traded 2 chicks for him. 🙂
I too think I have a rooster in the 8 babies I bought. They were born Feb.27. She is a little larger, stands more upright, and her comb is getting red, while the others are still yellow. She is a Muran….new breed for me, so we’ll see. Curious as to where you are going to put your babies as they get larger….can’t put them in with your big girls, as they will get beat up BIG time….!!!
After watching all your chicken posts, we finally built a coop and bought 4 young ladies last week! I was concerned about them being roosters too, but so far so good. They 9 weeks old. Fingers crossed for you!
Amy – Way to go! I’d love to see photos of your coop and congrats on getting your little ladies. Nine weeks old – I bet they are getting so big!! 🙂 Keep me posted. I’d love to hear when you get your first egg. . .
It will make for a tasty meal if it is a rooster. I know it may be hard to do the deed but it is a fact of life.
It is hard to do the deed, but much easier when (if it is really a boy) the crowing goes on all night. My 17 year old daughter has no problem at all! We watched a tutorial on you tube on humanely dispatching and cleaning, and it wasn’t bad at all. But my cousin has a hen who looks for all the world like a roo, spurs and all, but a great layer!
Heather!!! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Your photography is beautiful. It makes reading your blog even more enjoyable. I especially love the pics of the chicks. Do you use a big ol’ fancy camera or a point and shoot??
Margot you are too sweet! I have a Canon EOS Rebel T1i, from Costco. It’s a nicer camera, but not necessarily fancy. I salivate over the big, fancy cameras and hope one day to be able to afford something fancier but for now my little Canon is serving me well. I do love photography – so I’m thankful that you enjoy it too!
We just got 4 chicks 10 days ago. Our very first chickens ever. I am already attached. Thay are so adorable! I will be heartbroken if any are roosters!! Especially all 4???? Oh,say it ain’t so!!!!
We can’t have roosters here 🙁
Susan – YAY! Welcome to the chicken club. I might be a lifer, I’m not sure. I hope none of your babies are roos. 🙂
Comb and wattle size are not necessarily good indicators at this age, since different birds grow at different rates–especially at just 5 weeks old. What will be your best early indicator is the growth pattern of your young birds’ saddle and hackle feathers. In pullets (young females) those feathers should grow with tips that are more rounded, and with the same soft look to them the their other feathers (say, the ones on their backs) have, In cockerels (young males) they will become decidedly pointed on their ends. The feathers themselves will develop more of a translucent shine to them, especially around the outer edges. Additionally, the saddle feathers will elongate and droop off of the back just in front of and on either side or the tail. If you are looking, you will notice these changes long before a cockerel starts trying to crow.
I tried to look at her wings, but she wasn’t really having it. I’ll give it a little awhile and try again, although I’m not entirely sure I’d be able to spot it. Thank you so much for commenting – sounds like you know a lot about chickens! Do you have chicks?
Have to say I love your blog! I’m new around here, our family got our first batch of baby chicks last year. We bought 9 babies 4 were Rhode Island Reds and 3 turned out to be Roos. I noticed the big combs early on and I would say your apple is most likely a banana or some other boyish fruit. 🙂
*We bought 7 more babies about 5 weeks ago and so far they seem to be looking good, hoping no Roos here….
Ashley – Thank you for your sweet words! Glad you like my blog. That’s crazy that out of four of your Rhode Island Reds that three of them turned out to be roosters! What crazy odds. These stories I’m getting from you and other readers aren’t reassuring me. 🙂 So funny about the boyish fruit, yes, she may not be the apple we thought she was.
We went through the very same thing just a few months ago with our 7 new babies. One was for sure a Roo and was successfully rehomed. We suspect another is a Roo, but, because we aren’t as sure about this one as the first, we’re waiting for an egg or a crow. It’s gotta do something! 😉
Your RIR’s comb and wattles are quite large (and red) for 5 1/2 weeks…. My guess (I’m so sorry to say!) would be a Roo 🙁 The Roo we re-homed was my favorite of the flock, so I understand your concern. I have heard of people swearing that they have a rooster and they come out one day to see their “Roo” laying, so until the end, I guess you just don’t know 🙂
I’m thinking girly thoughts for you!! 🙂
I will be so sad if Apple is a boy. She’s my favorite and sort of “my” chicken out of the batch. We might be finding this lovely bird a new home, but I sure hope not. And thank you for thinking girly thoughts – that made me laugh out loud!
The first six chicks we ever purchased all turned out to be roosters! 🙁 You’ll know for sure if it starts crowing. It’s a strangled-sounding crow at first (think adolescent boy’s voice changing….) .
All six???? What are the odds! That’s crazy, LOL. Thanks for the tip, I’ll be listening.
I am dying to know the outcome!! I have 1 exactly like this and it is 7 weeks!