8-week (possible) Easter Egger cockerel?

[Folly's place]

I'm ambivalent about this chick right now. Comb says pullet (so far) but are those hackle feathers rounded or pointy? Males develop pointy hackle feathers before saddle feathers come in.
My EE cockerels have been easy to pick out, but once in a while a late developing cockerel can turn up.
Mary

 

[SilverBirds]

Okay peeps, we're another week in, now at 9 weeks, and are you all sure this EE isn't a roo? Especially because in one of the photos, I felt like she's debating whether or not to charge me. If so, please explain why! I feel like I know my birds, but I can easily be wrong. I really want a pullet but I'm itching to know for sure and greatly appreciate your help!View attachment 4193355

Still looks like a pullet to me. Her comb is small and pale and I've only ever seen that coloring on other females.

 

[DLA]

If you zoom in on the whiteish one - that's my EE pullet at 17 weeks. Yours looks very similar to mine and still looks like a pullet to me. My EE rooster was already developing noticeable hackle and saddle feathers and his comb was wider and more raised at 9 weeks. Below that is my rooster at about 9 weeks, not great pictures but you can see the differences at that age with the comb and feathers. I suppose it's always possible yours is late developing but I'm really not seeing it. I'll stick with pullet.

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

I'm ambivalent about this chick right now. Comb says pullet (so far) but are those hackle feathers rounded or pointy? Males develop pointy hackle feathers before saddle feathers come in.
My EE cockerels have been easy to pick out, but once in a while a late developing cockerel can turn up.
Mary

Me too, Mary! They look very pointy but I need to catch her to see. Sometimes the pattern can make round feathers look pointy and vise versa.

@SilverBirds & @DLA I certainly hope you both are right and will continue to wait. Boy howdy she is a feisty one though! I've never had an EE be anything even close to feisty, usually just the opposite. But it could just be her or her breeding, whatever it is.

Her comb has been very pink from an early age but hasn't grown a bit, so that has certainly pointed to pullet. I don't have any roos and so far my other 8 that are her age look just like pullets also, so I don't think there's another cockrel that would inhibit her development. I'll keep hanging on!

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

If you zoom in on the whiteish one - that's my EE pullet at 17 weeks. Yours looks very similar to mine and still looks like a pullet to me. My EE rooster was already developing noticeable hackle and saddle feathers and his comb was wider and more raised at 9 weeks. Below that is my rooster at about 9 weeks, not great pictures but you can see the differences at that age with the comb and feathers. I suppose it's always possible yours is late developing but I'm really not seeing it. I'll stick with pullet.
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Much much thanks for this! I keep looking at your photos. Your EE pullet is similar for sure, but your lady has that wide body and rounded tail that I love to see on developing pullets. My little thing is still super sleek and upright which reminds me of cockrel, but it's still early and you're very right about the comb. I need to take a closer look at the hackles, but gah I hate to chase and catch (aka rile them up) without good reason, though I can likely nab this one easily since she's so curious lol.

I really need to be sure before I decide what to do. Normally when a bird doesn't fit my preferred flock due to sex or temperment or whatever, I simply rehome for free. But we had a possible/likely Marek's diagnosis in our flock last winter, so unfortunately I can't rehome now.

Thanks again for your input! My instincts say *possible* cockrel, but I've been wrong before and I don't want to make a rash mistake with this pretty babe. I'm gonna settle in with her a while and hope for the best. She's definitely not bad, just very extroverted and pesky ha!

 

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

Much much thanks for this! I keep looking at your photos. Your EE pullet is similar for sure, but your lady has that wide body and rounded tail that I love to see on developing pullets. My little thing is still super sleek and upright which reminds me of cockrel, but it's still early and you're very right about the comb. I need to take a closer look at the hackles, but gah I hate to chase and catch (aka rile them up) without good reason, though I can likely nab this one easily since she's so curious lol.

I really need to be sure before I decide what to do. Normally when a bird doesn't fit my preferred flock due to sex or temperment or whatever, I simply rehome for free. But we had a possible/likely Marek's diagnosis in our flock last winter, so unfortunately I can't rehome now.

Thanks again for your input! My instincts say *possible* cockrel, but I've been wrong before and I don't want to make a rash mistake with this pretty babe. I'm gonna settle in with her a while and hope for the best. She's definitely not bad, just very extroverted and pesky ha!

Hi, I am going through something similar and was wondering about an update! I have EEs as well and hatched 3 chicks from them. I had guessed early on two girls one boy but I got them all wrong. Now at about 12 weeks I can tell better, and with some input, it seems I actually have two cockerels and one pullet

 

[WingItRanch]

Hi, I am going through something similar and was wondering about an update! I have EEs as well and hatched 3 chicks from them. I had guessed early on two girls one boy but I got them all wrong. Now at about 12 weeks I can tell better, and with some input, it seems I actually have two cockerels and one pullet

Your 2 lighter colored ones on the left and right appear to be cockerels. The one in the middle... I'm leaning pullet.

 

[mermaid_of_the_farm]

Your 2 lighter colored ones on the left and right appear to be cockerels. The one in the middle... I'm leaning pullet.

Thank you, that's what I'm thinking too. Maybe I'll get it right next time!