The Differences Between a Rooster and a Chicken You didn’t Know

Filed in Articles by on December 3, 2020

Difference Between a Rooster and a Chicken: Chickens are known for their fleshy combs, lobed wattles hanging below the bill, and high-arched tails.

A rooster is known to protect the group of chickens especially the female ones. It is also known to be more agile and aggressive than female chickens.

Rooster and Hen

In understanding the differences in different types of chickens, one should be familiar with the characteristics of the male and female chicken.

Feathers

Roosters often have distinguishing hackle or neck feathers and saddle or back feathers. In roosters, these feathers are often pointed, whereas, on hens, these feathers are rounded. Roostertail feathers have a curve to them. Because of their shape, they are often called “sickle feathers.”

Legs

Roosters often have thicker legs than hens and have pointed, sharp spurs. The rooster uses these spurs to protect the flock and defend himself. They are sharp, bone-like growths just above the toes on the rooster’s leg. Old hens will sometimes have spurs, but they will not be as long or sharp as those on roosters.

Wattles and Combs

Roosters usually have tall, upright, and larger combs than hens. If the rooster is young, he will have a more pronounced comb than female chicks of the same age. Roosters tend to have redder combs and wattles at an earlier age than those chicks of the same age. When mature, rooster wattles are very large when compared to hens.

Coloring

Roosters often have showier plumage than hens. Their colors are often bright and vibrant. Many roosters have iridescent feathers that capture the light and show off beautiful blue and green highlights. If the bird has iridescent plumage, it is most likely a rooster.

Crow

The female chickens do not crow during the dawn. It is not only that rooster’s crow in the dawn but also during the daytime, and it is said that it produces such sounds for protecting their territory.

Distinction Between Duties and Responsibilities

1. A male chicken is a rooster; a female chicken is a hen.

2. Unlike the female chickens, the roosters are known for their “cock-a-doodle-doo” during dawn.

3. Roosters are grown mainly for their meat and fighting. Cockfighting is well known and practiced in many parts of the world. On the contrary, female chickens are reared mainly for eggs.

4. Unlike other chickens, a rooster has a thick comb (crest of flesh on the head). The rooster combs are more red and prominent than the other chickens.

5. Roosters have more stamina and strength than female chickens.

6. A rooster has bright feather colors when compared to chickens.

7. Roosters are known to be sociable around humans but are known to be aggressive among their own kind.

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CSN Team.

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