Have you ever heard someone mention a “cockerel” and wondered what they were talking about? I definitely did when I first started learning about chickens! The poultry world has its own special vocabulary that can be confusing for beginners. Today I want to clear up what exactly a cockerel chicken is and how it differs from other chicken terms.
The Simple Definition: What Is A Cockerel?
A cockerel is simply a male chicken that is less than one year old. That’s it! Once a male chicken passes the one-year mark, he graduates to being called a rooster. Think of “cockerel” as the teenage version of a rooster – he’s not quite fully mature yet, but he’s definitely not a baby chick anymore.
Many backyard chicken keepers don’t bother with these technical terms and just call all their male chickens roosters But if you’re getting more serious about poultry, knowing the correct terminology can be helpful
The Chicken Life Cycle: From Chick to Adult
To understand where cockerels fit in, let’s look at the basic chicken life cycle and terminology:
- Chick: A baby chicken (male or female) that has recently hatched
- Pullet: A female chicken under 1 year old
- Cockerel: A male chicken under 1 year old
- Hen: A female chicken over 1 year old
- Rooster: A male chicken over 1 year old
As you can see, cockerel is the male equivalent of a pullet Both terms describe young chickens that haven’t reached full maturity yet
How to Identify a Cockerel
When chicks first hatch, it’s extremely difficult to tell males from females. They all look pretty much the same! But as they grow, differences start to appear. Here’s how you can identify a cockerel as they develop:
Physical Characteristics
-
Comb and Wattle Development
Cockerels develop their comb (the fleshy red part on top of the head) and wattle (the fleshy bit under the beak) earlier and more prominently than pullets. By about 3-4 months, you’ll notice the cockerel’s comb and wattle getting larger and redder. -
Spurs
Around 3-6 months, cockerels begin developing small spurs on the back of their legs. These start as tiny bumps and will continue to grow as the cockerel matures into a rooster. -
Feather Development
Cockerels develop different feathering patterns than pullets. Their hackle feathers (neck feathers) and saddle feathers (back feathers near the tail) become more pointed and elongated. Pullets’ feathers are more rounded. -
Size and Build
Cockerels typically grow faster and larger than pullets of the same age. They develop a more muscular build and stand more upright.
Behavioral Signs
-
Crowing Attempts
One of the most obvious signs! Cockerels typically start attempting to crow around 4-6 months of age. These early crows often sound awkward and broken compared to a mature rooster’s crow. Some cockerels start even earlier – I’ve heard some begin practicing at just 2-3 months old! -
Assertive Behavior
Cockerels often show more dominant behaviors than pullets. They may start challenging other cockerels, stand taller, and begin acting protective of hens. -
Mating Behavior
As they mature, cockerels will begin showing interest in the pullets/hens and may attempt to mate, though they might not be fully fertile yet.
Cockerel vs. Rooster: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between a cockerel and a rooster is age – a cockerel is under a year old, while a rooster is over a year old. But there are other notable differences:
| Feature | Cockerel | Rooster |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Under 1 year | Over 1 year |
| Comb & Wattle | Developing, smaller | Fully developed, larger |
| Spurs | Small, developing | Longer, harder, more developed |
| Crowing | Often awkward, developing | Full, mature crow |
| Body Size | Still growing | Fully grown |
| Behavior | Learning dominance | Established dominance |
| Fertility | May be fertile but not optimal | Fully fertile |
The Role of Cockerels in the Flock
Cockerels serve several purposes in a chicken flock:
Natural Behaviors
Even as young males, cockerels begin practicing rooster behaviors. They start learning to:
- Alert hens to food sources
- Watch for predators
- Develop their place in the pecking order
Breeding Purposes
Many chicken keepers raise cockerels for breeding programs. While cockerels can often fertilize eggs from around 5-6 months of age, their fertility may not be as reliable as mature roosters. If you’re serious about breeding, you might want to wait until your cockerel becomes a full rooster.
Meat Production
In commercial settings, cockerels (particularly from egg-laying breeds) are often raised for meat. Since they don’t lay eggs, and only a few roosters are needed for breeding, extra cockerels are frequently raised for consumption.
Common Challenges with Cockerels
Raising cockerels can come with some challenges:
Aggression Issues
As cockerels mature, some may become aggressive. This varies widely by breed and individual temperament. Breeds like Old English Game and some varieties of Asil are known to produce more aggressive cockerels.
If you notice your cockerel becoming aggressive, consistent handling from a young age can help. Providing adequate space is also crucial – cramped quarters often increase aggression.
Managing Multiple Cockerels
Keeping multiple cockerels together can be tricky. As they mature, they’ll likely fight to establish dominance. If you must keep multiple cockerels, make sure they have plenty of space (at least 10 square feet per bird in the coop and 20-30 square feet in the run) and multiple feeding stations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cockerels
Can cockerels fertilize eggs?
Yes, cockerels can fertilize eggs, usually starting around 5-6 months of age. However, their fertility rates may not be as high as mature roosters, and the quality of offspring might be affected.
How can I tell if my chick will grow into a cockerel?
It’s challenging to determine gender when chicks are very young. Professional hatcheries use “vent sexing,” which is about 90-95% accurate but requires expert training. For backyard chicken keepers, watching for the development of combs, wattles, and behavior is usually the easiest method, though you may need to wait several weeks to be sure.
Do I need a cockerel for my hens to lay eggs?
Nope! Hens will lay eggs regardless of whether a cockerel or rooster is present. The only difference is that without a male, the eggs won’t be fertilized and won’t hatch into chicks.
What should I feed my cockerel?
Cockerels can eat the same feed as the rest of your flock. A good quality grower feed (16-18% protein) is appropriate until they reach maturity. After that, they can transition to regular layer feed, though some people provide roosters with additional protein since they don’t need the extra calcium that hens do for egg production.
How do I prevent my cockerel from becoming aggressive?
- Handle them frequently from a young age
- Provide adequate space
- Avoid reinforcing aggressive behavior
- Consider breeds known for calmer temperaments
- Ensure they have enough environmental enrichment
Is a Cockerel Right for Your Flock?
Before deciding to raise a cockerel, consider these factors:
- Local regulations: Many urban and suburban areas prohibit roosters due to noise concerns. Check if there are restrictions on cockerels that will grow into crowing roosters.
- Flock size: A general rule is one rooster for every 8-10 hens. Too many males can lead to over-mating and stressed hens.
- Space: Cockerels need adequate space to thrive and minimize aggressive tendencies.
- Neighbors: Even before they crow fully, cockerels practicing their crow can be noisy. Consider your neighbors’ tolerance.
Conclusion
A cockerel chicken is simply a young male chicken under one year of age. While the terminology might seem fussy at first, understanding the difference between cockerels, roosters, pullets, and hens helps you communicate more clearly with other chicken enthusiasts and understand the specific needs of your birds at different life stages.
I’ve found that raising cockerels can be both challenging and rewarding. They have distinct personalities and watching them develop into mature roosters is fascinating. Whether you’re raising chickens for eggs, meat, breeding, or just as pets, knowing what to expect from your cockerels will help you provide the best care possible.
Do you have experience raising cockerels? Have you noticed differences between cockerels and roosters in your flock? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
Fertile eggs and chicks
A flock of hens does not need a rooster/cock to be able to lay eggs. Obviously, if you need fertile eggs for hatching, you will need one. Contrary to popular belief, you will NOT end up with hundreds of chicks running around!
Fertile eggs sit in a kind of stasis until the conditions are right for them to develop. If you collect the eggs regularly and store them in a cool area, having your eggs hatch wont happen.
It is perfectly safe to eat fertilised eggs, which will taste and look the same as an unfertilised one.
Male birds tend to be most fertile in their first three years. During the Spring and Summer, the testes will naturally enlarge, resulting in them mating the hens more often.
Hens may lose feathers on their back due to claw damage. They may also lose feathers on their neck due to beak damage.
Males cause this damage by holding on to the hens. Any ‘preferred’ hens may receive far more attention and damage as a result.
You can alleviate this by using hen saddles, which are small pieces of cloth with elastic on each side. These loop under the wings and prevent feather or skin damage.
Try to have as many hens as possible to ‘share out’ the attention he gives and only have one male per flock.
Item added to your cart
Interest-free installments with Shop Pay