Saddle feathers are one of the distinguishing features between roosters and hens. Located on the back in front of the tail, saddle feathers are longer, softer, and pointier on roosters compared to hens. Understanding what saddle feathers are and how to identify them can help chicken owners determine the sex of their chickens.
What Are Chicken Feathers?
All birds including chickens, are covered in feathers. Feathers serve many important functions for birds
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Insulation – Feathers trap air close to the bird’s body to retain heat.
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Waterproofing – Feathers are coated in oils that repel water and keep the bird dry
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Flight – The shape and arrangement of feathers on the wings provide lift and allow birds to fly.
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Communication – Colored feathers are used for camouflage or displaying during courtship.
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Protection – Feathers cover and shield the skin from cuts, scratches and sunburn.
Chickens have several types of feathers that serve different purposes:
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Contour feathers form the outermost layer and streamline the body.
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Down feathers are small, fluffy feathers that insulate the body.
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Filoplumes are hair-like feathers that sense movement around the bird.
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Flight feathers on the wings provide thrust and lift for flying.
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Tail feathers help with steering and maneuvering in flight.
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Hackle, sickle and saddle feathers are prominent feathers on roosters used for display.
What Are Saddle Feathers?
Saddle feathers are the feathers located on a chicken’s back in front of the tail. Both roosters and hens have saddle feathers, but they are more pronounced on roosters.
On hens, saddle feathers tend to be short, rounded, and indistinct. They blend smoothly into the contour feathers along the hen’s back and sides.
Roosters have longer, pointier saddle feathers that stand out from the rest of the body feathers. The feathers drape down the rooster’s back in two pom-pom like patches on either side of the tail.
Rooster with prominent saddle feathers compared to hen
Saddle feathers are longer and pointier on roosters (left) compared to hens (right). Image source: Backyard Chickens forum
The saddle feathers on a rooster are typically iridescent and colorful, often a different hue than the rest of the feathers. This helps the saddle feathers catch the light and draw attention during courtship displays.
On some breeds like Orpingtons and Brahmas, the rooster’s saddle feathers can grow up to a foot long and nearly drag the ground. These extravagant saddle feathers distinguish roosters from hens even at a distance.
Functions of Rooster Saddle Feathers
The saddle feathers serve multiple important functions for roosters:
Display
Roosters use their saddle feathers prominently during courtship displays to attract hens. When courting, the rooster will stand tall, flare out his saddle feathers, drop his wings, and strut in front of hens.
The iridescent saddle feathers shimmer and catch the light, helping attract the hens’ attention. The large, fanned-out feathers also make the rooster appear larger and more impressive. This behavior stimulates the hens’ breeding instincts.
Rank
In a flock with multiple roosters, the dominance hierarchy is clearly displayed by the saddle feathers. The dominant rooster will fluff out his saddle feathers and stand tall to assert his status over subordinate roosters.
Roosters with broken, tattered saddle feathers are likely lower ranking in the pecking order. Flock mates may pick on a rooster’s splendid saddle feathers if he is not behaving dominantly.
Aggression
When confronted by predators or competing roosters, a rooster will raise his hackles and swell his saddle feathers to look more threatening and intimidating.
Flaring the saddle feathers makes the rooster appear much larger than his actual size, which can startle an opponent. The dramatic display is meant to convey confidence and power.
Differences Between Rooster & Hen Saddle Feathers
There are a few key differences that help distinguish between a rooster’s saddle feathers and a hen’s:
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Length – A rooster’s saddle feathers are exceptionally long, up to 12 inches on some breeds. Hens have very short saddle feathers.
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Shape – Rooster saddle feathers are pointed and narrow. Hen saddle feathers are short, wide and rounded at the ends.
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Texture – Rooster saddle feathers are soft and fluffy. Hen saddle feathers are smooth with stiff shafts.
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Color – On many breeds, the rooster has colorful saddle feathers that contrast the rest of the plumage. Hens typically have consistent feather coloring.
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Emergence – Rooster saddle feathers start emerging around 12-16 weeks of age as testosterone increases. Pullets lack large saddle feathers.
Position – The saddle feathers drape down the rooster’s back but do not cover the shoulders. On hens the saddle blends into contour feathers.
Breed Differences in Saddle Feathers
While all roosters have distinguished saddle feathers compared to hens, some breeds have particularly prominent saddles.
Large Breeds
The largest chicken breeds like Brahma, Cochin and Orpington are well-known for their massive, flowing saddle hackle feathers on the roosters. These breeds originated in cold climates, so the exaggerated feathers help conserve body heat.
The Brahma rooster saddle feathers nearly reach the ground. Cochins have a cape-like saddle covering the back half of the body. Orpingtons have a medium-sized saddle and profuse tail feathers.
Long-Tailed Breeds
Breeds like Yokohama, Phoenix and Onagadori are prized for their extraordinarily long tail feathers that can grow up to 10 feet! To support these elaborate tails, the roosters also develop very long, specialized saddle feathers.
Game Breeds
Game breeds like Modern Game, Old English and Sumatra have compact, close-fitting feathering. But the roosters still develop a distinct patch of short, pointed saddle feathers for display. Hens of these breeds lack a saddle.
Clean-Legged Breeds
In Mediterranean breeds like Leghorn, Minorca, Andalusian and Ancona, the rooster has medium-length hackle and saddle feathers. These streamlined feathers suit the active, flighty temperament of these breeds.
When Do Roosters Develop Saddle Feathers?
Most chicken owners are eager to determine whether their chicks are male or female as early as possible. However, identifying gender based on saddle feathers takes some patience.
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0-8 weeks – No visible differences between males and females. Downy chick plumage.
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8-12 weeks – Combs and wattles begin growing more prominently on males. Still too early for saddle feathers.
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12-16 weeks – Males may start exhibiting pointed body feathers. Saddle feathers not fully developed.
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16+ weeks – Distinct, long, pointed saddle feathers emerge on adolescent cockerels along with crowing, strutting and mating behaviors.
The timing varies based on breed, but saddle feathers generally become apparent at 16-24 weeks once the cockerels reach sexual maturity. Pullets never grow long, prominent saddle feathers.
For earlier gender identification, look for faster-growing combs, larger wattles, pointier neck feathers, and mating behaviors. Waiting for clearly defined saddle feathers provides the most reliable indicator.
Common Questions
Do hens have saddle feathers?
Yes, hens have small saddle feathers as part of their contour feathers along the back. However, they lack the long, colorful, distinctive saddle feathers seen on roosters. Hen saddle feathers are short, blunt and indistinguishable from other body feathers.
At what age do roosters get saddle feathers?
Most roosters begin exhibiting saddle feathers around 16-24 weeks as they reach adolescence and sexual maturity. The feathers develop as testosterone increases. Slow-maturing breeds may take up to 6 months to grow prominent saddle feathers.
What are the drapey feathers on a rooster’s neck called?
These feathers are known as hackles. Both hens and roosters have hackle feathers, but the hackles are much longer and more prominent on roosters. Hackles lift and spread as part of courtship and aggression displays.
Why do roosters lose their saddle feathers?
If a rooster is molting, it will shed and regrow its saddle feathers. Roosters may also lose saddle feathers from fighting with other roosters or hens picking at the feathers. Stress, poor nutrition, or illness can cause excessive loss of saddle feathers.
Do rooster chicks have saddle feathers?
No, like pullets, rooster chicks lack saddle feathers. They will be covered in soft downy feathers. Saddle feathers develop later during adolescence around 16-24 weeks as testosterone increases.
Conclusion
Totally ineffective ways to sex a chicken
There is no way to alter the sex of an embryo by incubation technique. No ifs ands or buts.
Wrong, there is no correlation.
I see where you are coming from with this but no. Again, reference personality.
Have faith in the feathers! If you have a mystery chicken that has you questioning, give it time. Wait for those saddle feathers to come in (or not come in) and if you find you have more males than our 10% sexing margin, call us, and we will make it right! Please wait until they are at least 10 weeks old before youre sure she is a he, and please, please, PLEASE do not only look at the combs! A little patience and knowledge can go a long way.
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Feathers – Hackle, Saddle, and Sickle
The most accurate and clear way to visibly sex a young or juvenile chicken is through the feathers. Males will develop saddle feathers around 8-12 weeks old, while hackle and sickle feathers do not make an appearance until 16-24 weeks. Saddle feathers are a clearer difference and develop earlier, so this is the preferred indicator.
Saddle feathers are feathers that develop towards the base of the abdomen/beginning of the tail. On roosters, they are long, draping feathers with pointed tips. On hens, they are much shorter, wider, and more of an oval shape. Hackle feathers are the feathers that surround the neck. Again, on roosters, they will be longer, narrower, and pointed, while on hens, they are wide and oval-shaped. Sickle Feathers are the classic long, dramatic, arced feathers that stick out from the tail. While the presence of sickle feathers would make it very obvious that it is a male, they often arent present for other reasons. Sickles are some of the last adult feathers to develop, and they are commonly preened off or damaged; often you already know the bird to be male before the sickles really start to show up.
A comparison of feather shape, size and orientation on roosters and hens
There are a few exceptions to this rule, one of which is called hen-feathered. This is where these differences between sexes are minimal to none. Some hen-feathered breeds are Sebrights, Campines, and Silkies. Additionally, any rumpless breeds (pure Ameraucanas, some Easter Eggers, etc.) cannot use tail feathers as an indicator.
Crowing and spurs are lumped together because they are similar, as they are associated with roosters. However, they are not exclusive to, nor do they apply to every rooster.
Spurs are sharp protrusions from the back of a chickens leg above where it conjoins with the foot. Hens having spurs is very abnormal but definitely not impossible. All chickens will have a bump called a spur bud in the same place, some more pronounced than others. Hens are capable of emitting a crowing-like sound. When this happens, it is typically the most dominant hen in a same-sex flock. Again, not likely, but absolutely possible
Personality is not a clear example of sex. Behavior is influenced by breed, sex, environment, and care. For a relatable comparison, think of dog breeds. Certain breeds have reputations of being friendly or aggressive, active or lazy, but ultimately, they are a product of their environment. As with all animals, there are always a few deviations from the expectation.
That being said, roosters are commonly territorial, assertive, and dominant in comparison to hens. But, do not assume if you have a domineering or bully chicken that it is always male. With proper care, you can absolutely have a gentle rooster. Adversely, with improper care, you can make the meanest chicken out of the friendliest hen.
Size or weight is a valid indicator only if we are looking at a flock of the same breed, sex, age, and origin. When looking at the same breed, males will become visually larger than females upon sexual maturity. The age of sexual maturity will vary however, it is generally in the range of 16 to 24 weeks. Any notable disparities in the size of a single breed flock before sexual maturity is likely a genetic or environmental factor. An example of this would be a smaller chick being at the bottom of the pecking order and having limited access to food.
In a mixed breed flock, you must account for each breeds projected size. For example, hybrids such as Golden Comets, are a fast-growing, but small breed. They are often larger than other chicks as teenagers but will be significantly smaller than most breeds upon sexual maturity – regardless of sex.