The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: qpd4ever on February 02, 2010, 07:43:18 pm

Title: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: qpd4ever on February 02, 2010, 07:43:18 pm

i have 3 buff orpington chickens aprox 1 year old .i have not had an egg out of any but none of them have cockadodle dude are they male or female. i have noticed that sometimes they face each other and puff their necks up. can someone tell me if im waiting for an egg that is never going to come.

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: RUSTYME on February 02, 2010, 08:04:26 pm

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Orpington-B80.aspx

the pictures on the above site should show you what you have ...hope that helps ..

Cheers

Russ

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: little blue on February 02, 2010, 09:18:02 pm

not orps, but we have one cockerel.... and 2 hens that crow!  so its no guarantee of gender

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: Roxy on February 02, 2010, 09:58:33 pm

The facing each other and puffing necks up, could be two cockerels having a skirmish, but having said that, some of my hens regularly do that to each other!!  But at a year old, I would have expected a few eggs by now.  Is there any way they could be laying somewhere outside, perhaps (thats if they are indeed hens!)

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: qpd4ever on February 03, 2010, 08:01:46 am

i think im going to put them in their own place as they are free range with 3 warrens who lay eggs nearly every day.

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: sonyasmallholder on February 05, 2010, 06:28:40 pm

i dont know if they are girl or boy but this morning one of the orpingtons cockadoodle dooed and we are keeping a close eye on it but we still have two more we are unsure about.

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 05, 2010, 09:44:17 pm

this morning one of my ducks (definitely a girl) was playing drake - I think the birds are confused themselves at this time of the year, even if they are adults  ;D :&> :chook:

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: sonyasmallholder on February 06, 2010, 12:12:02 pm

its hard to figger out if they are girl or boy because they are acting like cockrels but when we bought them the man said they were hens. :chook:  :-\

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: Elissian on February 06, 2010, 09:37:04 pm

There are a few pointers which would separate males from females but if they're all the same sex obviously then you can't compare them to each other. Males have bigger combs and thicker legs than females. the feathers at the base of the tail are rounded in females and pointed in males. If you have both sexes this might help.
good luck, helen

Title: Re: orpingtons hen or cockeral
Post by: sagehen on February 06, 2010, 10:08:17 pm

My neighbour's got buff orpingtons. The males usually have upright combs and the females don't. Post a pic, so we can help you, maybe?