You are here:

Birds--General/Rhode Island Red...rooster?

Advertisement

Expert: Abi - 6/9/2009


Question
So I have 6 ladies, one of which I have a supspicion might be a rooster.. because his comb is so bright red and he is the leader of the pack, the only one who still pecks.... Besides "crowing" at her/him to check the response.. Do you have pics of rooster vrs hen in this breed that will actually show a difference?  I had bought all hens but now I would LIKE to have a rooster..so if red cloud turns out to be another hen..Can I just go get a rooster to add to the pack? And if thats okay- should he be there age or can I get a baby and integrate them?

thanks :)
katie

Answer
Hello Katie,

Having a bright comb and being quite peck-happy doesn't make her a rooster! Your other hens should just have solid colouring, maybe with some minimal black streaks- a rooster looks quite different, like this http://www.redroosterfarm.com/assets/images/HueyMascot.jpg
If you want a rooster then I suggest getting a slightly older one, that may have run with hens of his own before, so he knows what he's doing! Young and inexperienced roosters in my experience tend to harass the girls too much and go a bit power mad!

Thanks for your question.

Birds--General

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Abi

Expertise

I CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ANIMALS OTHER THAN CHICKENS/DUCKS/GEESE- I WILL TRY BUT THEY ARE NOT MY SPECIALIST SUBJECT- PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGIES, FINCHES, PARROTS, COCKATIELS OR OTHER 'EXOTIC' BIRDS. I can answer questions on pretty much all CHICKEN breeds, including fancy and bantam birds. I can give advice on how to get the best egg production, brightest yolk colours and darkest egg shell colours, breeding (using broody hens, not incubators), bird problems/illnesses. I can give advice on all aspects of basic chicken care but I breed chickens for my own pleasure only, I do not often show or sell my birds.

Experience

I own and breed a wide range of chickens, but I speciallise in cochins and crevecour bantams; crevecours have a large crest (an afro!) so I can answer questions on problems concerning them; cochins have feathered legs, which leads to no end of problems which I have experienced! I also own a large flock of domestic, rescued 'battery' hens, and a single maran hen, Hilda, who is the matriarch of her flock, so I can give advice on how to get the best colour of maran eggs!

Education/Credentials
n/a

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.