Perhaps the employee at the feed store was not acquainted with the characteristics of the Ameruacana breed. They lack comb and wattles, so a cockerel can appear to be a hen.
Because your birds have a mottled pattern to their feathers, it's not easy to see the shape of the feathers in the photo. However, the white faced bird, does have a long tail. Normally you can also identify a cockerel by the size of the comb and wattles. But, Ameruacanas and EE's have pea combs, no wattles, instead beards and ear muffs.
It may be helpful to look to the feathering. Cockerels will develop arrow shaped feathers on the rear, saddle area, sickle shaped feathers on the tail and saddle area.
Here is my Ameruacana cockerel, he'll be 15 weeks old on Saturday. Note his feathers and stance. Picture was taken this morning.
Here he is at a distance. His legs are thicker and his feet are large, compared to his sister.
Here is Lovey, you can see her rounded feathers, and petite feet and sweet face.
Lovey's saddle area with lots of rounded feathers.
By contrast, here is my departed Ameruacana, Taji. She was two and a half years old in this photo.
Unlike other breeds, which may lay their first egg at 18 weeks, Ameruacanas and EE's can take up to 25 weeks to lay their first egg. A hen will also squat in submission, when you place your hand over their back. They'll start doing this a couple weeks before they lay.
Your birds are 5 months old, so soon they'll be laying and egg. Hopefully, in the next couple weeks or so. That will settle the question of their gender, once and for all.
And all chickens make noise of some sort. I can hear my neighbor hen singing her egg song a quarter mile away! Hens make all kinds of vocalizations, grunts, growls, clucks, screeching and yes, crowing type sounds. If the neighbor complains, give them some free eggs, as a good will gesture.
God Bless
