Ameraucana Roo?

[klaranna belle]

Hello All!

I must say, I'm completely new to this whole "chicken-thing," so any help will be appreciated!

We thought we were getting 4 pullets and it's now looking like 3 cockerels and 1 sweet, little pullet! Live and learn, right?

The one pictured is the last one we aren't completely sure of, we were told this is an Ameraucana. I'd sure like this to be another hen, but......any thoughts?

LOL, anyone in Minnesota need a rooster?!

Thanks, in advance, for the help!

 

[Makayla M]

Well, I can tell you that the chicken pictured is a hen, not a roo. You can tell by the size of the comb and wattle. The tail feathers would be more grand too. Roos have an extra claw located at the back of the foot called a spur, the spur is for defense and should be trimmed or removed. I'm almost positive that they're all hens because they are all identified as male/female before being sold. Here is an Ameraucana Rooster and Hen. See the difference?

Welcome to the whole "chicken-thing" btw! Posted by your friend - Makayla

 

[klaranna belle]

Thanks for the input, Makayla, those are some beautiful birds! One thing, I forgot to mention was that the chicken in question was only hatched on April 4. That being said, is it possible this is a juvenile rooster? I suuuuuuure hope you are right...our one hen needs a friend!

Thanks! -Greta

 

[niff56]

I would say its a pullet (female)... I would think by 3 months old you would be seeing saddle and hackle feathers coming in and at least the start of the curved rooster tail

 

[Sphinx]

I'm not nearly as convinced that's a pullet. I'd lean towards a cockerel. One thing I am much more convinced of is that the chicken is an Easter Egger, not an Ameraucana.

 

[Kelsie2290]

At 14 weeks that is a fairly big red comb for a pullet, but the red coverage is fairly even and it could be an early maturing pullet, I wouldn't bet either way on that one. Agree, that is a very pretty Easter Egger whatever it is.

 

[hdowden]

looks like an easter egger pullet, not an Ameraucana

how old are they and can you get a full body shot from the side and from the top please? i would like to see the others to if you do not mind

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Well, I can tell you that the chicken pictured is a hen, not a roo. You can tell by the size of the comb and wattle. The tail feathers would be more grand too. Roos have an extra claw located at the back of the foot called a spur, the spur is for defense and should be trimmed or removed. I'm almost positive that they're all hens because they are all identified as male/female before being sold. Here is an Ameraucana Rooster and Hen. See the difference?

Welcome to the whole "chicken-thing" btw! Posted by your friend - Makayla

Hi, Makayla,

Sorry to butt in, but there were some inaccuracies in your post I wanted to correct.
At the age of the OP's bird above, there would be spur buds in both males and females. Going by spur buds is a very inaccurate way to sex birds.
Also, there is no need to do a thing to a rooster's spurs unless he is accidentally harming himself or his hens with them. If he is intentionally harming his hens, he should be culled and his spurs are immaterial.
As far as birds being ID'd as rooster or hen before being sold, sexing is an inexact art and there is no hatchery that guarantees better than a 90% success rate in sexing. That means that up to 10% of the chicks sold as sexed pullets are indeed male.
Finally, the birds you've posted photos of are both male. One is just younger than the other, or has had his tail feathers pulled out.

OP--I think your bird is a pullet. I'm about 80% sure on this one (that is a big comb, but it's not red...). Don't get rid of him/her yet!

 

[K Spot]

Hi, Makayla,

Sorry to butt in, but there were some inaccuracies in your post I wanted to correct.
At the age of the OP's bird above, there would be spur buds in both males and females. Going by spur buds is a very inaccurate way to sex birds.
Also, there is no need to do a thing to a rooster's spurs unless he is accidentally harming himself or his hens with them. If he is intentionally harming his hens, he should be culled and his spurs are immaterial.
As far as birds being ID'd as rooster or hen before being sold, sexing is an inexact art and there is no hatchery that guarantees better than a 90% success rate in sexing. That means that up to 10% of the chicks sold as sexed pullets are indeed male.
Finally, the birds you've posted photos of are both male. One is just younger than the other, or has had his tail feathers pulled out.

OP--I think your bird is a pullet. I'm about 80% sure on this one (that is a big comb, but it's not red...). Don't get rid of him/her yet!

I completely agree - and Makayla, your birds are Easter Eggers too

 

[popsicle]

I agree, OP's bird is a pullet; and Makayla's are both cockerels. However, doesn't the rear cockerel look more like a BLRW?