4-week EE developing comb early

[Leeloo7]

Hello again! I have a soon-to-be four week old Easter Egger whose comb has started to rapidly develop. She’s definitely a bit more fiesty than her salmon faverolle roommate too. I believe she has a pea comb, and I am seeing three clear rows that are already starting to pink, which I’ve read are two indicators of a boy. My olive egger (whom I believe also has a pea comb) hasn’t developed her comb at all yet and she’s 10 weeks old so that’s what I have to go off of for comparison. Any thoughts even though I know it’s pretty early to tell right now? I’m trying not to worry too much as I did just go through this with my BR. She also developed her comb early at around 4-weeks so I was convinced she was a boy but then she grew into her comb and now looks like a total hen!

 

[DolceVita]

Agree it’s too early but the comb looks like a roo but very pretty!!

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Too early ive had girls that show bigger combs at that age. This is my Merida. Her sister Nuggets was way bigger but I dont have a good photo of her at that age. Second pic is my nugget at 8 weeks

 

[Leeloo7]

Too early ive had girls that show bigger combs at that age. This is my Merida. Her sister Nuggets was way bigger but I dont have a good photo of her at that age. Second pic is my nugget at 8 weeks

Thank you for providing your experience and the pics are super helpful! This is my first EE so I was curious to know if others have had EEs with combs like mine at 4-weeks. I’m really hoping she’s a pullet so we can get some colorful eggs but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if she’s a roo as we have some very brave and ruthless hawks where I live!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I am pretty darn confident that is a cockerel although young. That comb is very pink

 

[Leeloo7]

I am pretty darn confident that is a cockerel although young. That comb is very pink

Ya the comb is what worries me! And she’s also pretty fiesty! We just introduced them to our older flock that’s five weeks older and she tried to stand up to one of the big chicks! Definitely has the confidence of a roo too

The only EE roo trait that I can’t tell if “she” is exhibiting right now is the coloring. She’s got a red patch on her chest but everywhere else she’s solid grey. Not sure if her coloring will stay this way but I don’t see the uneven coloring that I’ve read EE Roos have. Here’s some pics of her today in the outside light.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Ya the comb is what worries me! And she’s also pretty fiesty! We just introduced them to our older flock that’s five weeks older and she tried to stand up to one of the big chicks! Definitely has the confidence of a roo too

The only EE roo trait that I can’t tell if “she” is exhibiting right now is the coloring. She’s got a red patch on her chest but everywhere else she’s solid grey. Not sure if her coloring will stay this way but I don’t see the uneven coloring that I’ve read EE Roos have. Here’s some pics of her today in the outside light.

Definitely a cockerel still

 

[Leeloo7]

So of course, this little guy/gal started developing the trademark red splotches on their shoulders this week!

I just reached out to the breeder for advice on if I should rehome this one and try to get another pullet similar in age (I also have a salmon favorelle that’s the same age so I don’t want her getting integrated alone with the bigger flock) and the breeder said that because EEs are a mixed breed, they can be very difficult to sex based on their comb and coloring. However, in addition to the comb and coloring, this one has a total roo personality (brave, picks on their brooder-mate, not afraid of the older chicks when I take their cage out to the chicken run, etc).

So my question is, should I wait it out and try to integrate him with the older flock and rehome him later if/when he crows or becomes too aggressive? At that point, hopefully our salmon faverolle will be integrated with her older siblings. Or should I re-home this one now and find another pullet around their age? Here’s some updates photos of the little EE, who is 5.5 weeks old. He’s a beauty so I’m really sad that I ended up on the 10% side of the sexed pullet statistic!