A very confused Chicken...thoughts please

[NormansGal44]

So what is a common color and plumage pattern that indicates an EE rooster? Any pointers? I'm crossing my fingers I've got three pullets!

 

[CayuseRanch]

mother o' chicks72 :

separate it (i think it's a girl) for a while and see if it lays

and if it's a rooster who doesn't crow or mate your hens, well then just consider him a pet

And according to your rule I get to go get 2 more!​

 

[Break an Egg]

I think that one is still a baby, it's not going to get any wattles to speak of, and it is most definatley a boy.



I would guess his age to be around 5-7 months old, and the reason he may not be mating or crowing may be because he is a lower ranking roo, afraid of the bigger older roos.

 

[mother o' chicks72]

Quote:
And according to your rule I get to go get 2 more!

haha yep.

 

[Break an Egg]

Quote:
The more flashy EE's are usually boys, they will have alot of white and black and also the dark patches on the shoulder areas will let you know.

Typically, the EE hens are more camoflaged looking with gold and black all over them, although I have seen some pretty exceptions.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I say a boy based on first glance but I agree with the others on separating it for awhile. I have some EE's that took almost a year to lay!! My EE rooster was almost 10-11 months before he crowed and confirmed my suspicions. I have other hens though that have pointy feathers and their tails turn up so it's hard to say!! HTH

 

[NormansGal44]

The more flashy EE's are usually boys, they will have alot of white and black and also the dark patches on the shoulder areas will let you know.

Typically, the EE hens are more camoflaged looking with gold and black all over them, although I have seen some pretty exceptions.

One of my EEs (they're abt 4 weeks) is a lot smaller than the others, no cheek tuffs and "she" is just getting a few feathers in her tail. She is much smaller than the other two (1-2 oz) and isn't feathering out as fast. I think she's going to be white and grey. Is that normal? I got them from TSC so who knows what their heritage is.

 

[elabraleon]

That is a rooster!!!!! pointy saddle feathers, red large comb for an EE. Definate boy.

 

[Sorin]

I hate to disagree with people who have more experience than me, but if that chicken is 7 months old then I say hen. I see a little bit of sickle feathers, but with no wattles at 7 months old, and the comb is pretty small, I'm sticking with hen.

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

Going in the nest boxes is actually a natural behaviour for roosters. They are to present the nest to the hen that he thinks is suitable for her to lay in, she inspects and then gives her yay or nay. My Blue Ameraucana roo use to do that with his favorit gals, he sometimes ended up sitting with them on the nest clucking away.

Yours is definitly a roo and if he is from a flock with multiple roos in it he probably was the bottom of the pecking order there for does not crow or breed the hens. Also if the hen is older and more dominant he may not breed her either cause she doesn't want to deal with a teenage boy practicing(got some cranky old bats like that myself, they only like their main guy and give youngsters the boot).
Also if you have an adult roo in your flock he may be again intimidated by him.

As for feathers, some patterns make feathers look pointy on some hens but on closer inspection they are round, if they are long, stringy, pointy with with those more see-through shiny edges they ARE rooster hackles.
Also bearded breeds of chickens don't get wattles like beardless breeds. In Ameraucana roosters they should downright be absent and not visible at all unless you dig through the beard.