[mike g]

I have in the past week just got my first chickens, they hatched in late march. I have 4 chickens but am starting to think that one of them might be a cockerel. He/she is bigger than the other 3 and is definatley the leader. Its comb is much bigger and redder. How can i tell if it is a cockerel and what age would it start crowing? Apart from this they are great!

[blulagoo]

My boy started crowing at about 17 weeks - his comb was more 'jagged' and a lot deeper from the head than the girls. Hi is very loud, also  hte feathers around his neck (hackles) are very fine and pointy compared to the girls (also down his back to his tail).

Hope this helps. If you post a pic I bet you'll get loads of suggestions!

[mumsy]

Hi Mike
Welcome to the mad house
If you have been lurking for a while you may know that it is the law  to show us all your girls/boy? So piccies please, then someone will let you know if you have a little boy there

[mike g]

Thanks for that, i will try and put photo on tomorrow.

[GrannieAnnie]

With our Amberlinks, you can tell quite early which is which by the size of the comb.  It gets bigger by the time they are about 4 weeks old.  We've got 3 in this batch of 300 and we had 2.5 in the last batch!!! lol  Also, the biggest one is trying to crow, although not very well and they are nearly 10 weeks old.

[sheridal]

How do you get 2.5 cockerels? or is one undecided if he is a hen?