Different Looks Between Cockerels & Pullets

Distinguishing cockerels from pullets is vital if you wish to keep your own hens, as only pullets will provide you with eggs. Determining the sex of young chickens can be somewhat difficult, but there are a number of general guidelines that will help you determine if a young chicken is a cockerel or a pullet.

  1. Warnings

    • The first-time chicken buyer may have a very difficult time in distinguishing cockerels and pullets. Pullets are generally more valuable than cockerels for their egg-laying services. If you are buying chickens for eggs, only pullets are necessary and even if you wish to breed more chicks, only one male is required for every dozen females. Note that it may be very difficult to keep cockerels in an urban environment, due to the loud calls that they make in the morning.

    Feathers at One Week

    • Very young pullets appear more developed than very young cockerels. At just one week of age, pullets already show significant traces of feathers, including wing and tail feathers. On the other hand, cockerels of the same age have barely any feathering at all and a very small, rounded tail. A soft, downy fluff usually still completely covers one-week-old cockerels.

    Feathers at Six Weeks

    • At six weeks of age, cockerels are still less feathered than pullets. On the legs and back, and especially on the tail and wings, you will see pointy feathers and quills, as well as some traces of down rather than complete feathers. Pullets have all of their feathers and look almost like a fully developed hen at the age of six weeks.

    Other Characteristics at Six Weeks

    • Cockerels are generally larger than pullets at six weeks of age. although their feathers are still less developed. They are taller than pullets, due to their thicker and longer legs, which start to develop spurs at this time. In addition, they will have started to develop a larger, redder comb on the neck and top of the head -- a pullet's comb will still be mostly yellow at six weeks. In addition, a cockerel's head will be larger and more angular than a pullet's small, round head. Furthermore, a cockerel's tail will appear curved and stumpy rather than the straight tails on the pullets.

    Behavior

    • Cockerels at six weeks of age will begin to behave differently than pullets -- they are generally braver, friendlier and more assertive. One way of telling them apart is to sail a hat or other object over the head of the chicken -- pullets will cower in fear while cockerels will stand more erect and try to "challenge" the hat.