Easiest ways to tell the difference between roosters (male) and hens (female) chickens. Also includes information on how to sex baby chicks and how to sex chickens inside the egg.
Most people who have been around chickens can notice the obvious differences between an adult hen and an adult rooster. Roosters crow, Hen's lay eggs but experienced chicken raisers use these signs to tell the difference at various ages.
How to tell if a chicken is a Rooster (Cockerel-male chicken)?
Answer: A rooster will have a larger comb, larger wattles, with a rougher texture than hens, they also have spurs on the ankles, have pointed hackle feathers on the back of the neck and curving saddle feathers called sickle feathers at the base of the tail. Roosters crow and have thicker legs than hens. Even in the pullet stage a roosters comb will appear slightly larger, redder or have more color, than their female counter parts.
How to tell if a chicken is a Hen?
Answer: Hens (Pullets-female chicken)-The most obvious sign that a chicken is female is when it lays an egg. Hens usually do not have spurs (a boney long sharp growth on their legs above the toes). Sometimes older hens will develop spurs and some genetically altered hens will develop spurs but they are much smaller than those found on roosters. The comb is usually a lighter in color, smaller and a smoother texture than a male. A hen's feathers are rounded at the tips. Keep scrolling to see how to sex baby chicks, chicks that are at the in between age, and how to sex a chicken inside the egg.
See more ways to sex chickens below.
How to tell if a chicken is a Rooster (Cockerel-male chicken)?
Answer: A rooster will have a larger comb, larger wattles, with a rougher texture than hens, they also have spurs on the ankles, have pointed hackle feathers on the back of the neck and curving saddle feathers called sickle feathers at the base of the tail. Roosters crow and have thicker legs than hens. Even in the pullet stage a roosters comb will appear slightly larger, redder or have more color, than their female counter parts.
How to tell if a chicken is a Hen?
Answer: Hens (Pullets-female chicken)-The most obvious sign that a chicken is female is when it lays an egg. Hens usually do not have spurs (a boney long sharp growth on their legs above the toes). Sometimes older hens will develop spurs and some genetically altered hens will develop spurs but they are much smaller than those found on roosters. The comb is usually a lighter in color, smaller and a smoother texture than a male. A hen's feathers are rounded at the tips. Keep scrolling to see how to sex baby chicks, chicks that are at the in between age, and how to sex a chicken inside the egg.
See more ways to sex chickens below.
