- 1). Examine the combs of your chickens. Combs are the rosy-colored skin protrusions on the face and head. Hens typically have smaller combs than roosters. If some of your chickens' combs are floppy and falling across their faces, these are the hens.
- 2). Compare the tail feathers of the chickens. The rooster's tail feathers will be longer and fuller than the hen's.
- 3). Examine the spur on the back of the chicken's feet. This is a long protrusion looking much like an extra toe that extends in the direction opposite the rest of the toes. Roosters always have thick, long spurs. Hens don't often have spurs, but when they do, they're not as big as the rooster's.
- 4). Look for a shine on the feathers of the rooster. Roosters have oil glands that help them preen their feathers, making them look shinier than the feathers on a hen.
- 5). Pick out the crowing chicken. Only roosters can crow, and not hens. If you notice that one of your birds crows loudly, especially early in the morning, this will be the rooster.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time