Are these EE's pullets or cockerels? Thanks!

[cassbickford]

I am thinking that the white one is definitely a pullet, but I am unsure about the one with the dark head. Seven weeks old:

 

[khoe]

I'd say the other looks like a pullet as well, but the redish on the shoulders is concerning. I'd give it a week and go from there.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Not sure about the one with the dark head. The one with the light head and red shoulders is 100% male. No need to wait on that one--that's a male color pattern through and through.

The dark headed one may be female even with the red in the wings because it is a pale red and is a very smooth pattern over the entire body. Give that one some time.

 

[cassbickford]

Not sure about the one with the dark head. The one with the light head and red shoulders is 100% male. No need to wait on that one--that's a male color pattern through and through.

The dark headed one may be female even with the red in the wings because it is a pale red and is a very smooth pattern over the entire body. Give that one some time.

Oh, really?! That is the opposite of what I was thinking because of the lack of comb development, but she/he does seem to act tough. They were both sold as pullets but I know that there is still a change that they could be male! I really, really hope that you are correct because I want a roo now sooo bad!! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Oh, really?! That is the opposite of what I was thinking because of the lack of comb development, but she/he does seem to act tough. They were both sold as pullets but I know that there is still a change that they could be male! I really, really hope that you are correct because I want a roo now sooo bad!! Thanks for the feedback!

Where are you located? I have a red EE rooster that's in the cull box for tonight...

But honestly, the light headed one with the red shoulders is 100% boy. You simply can't go by comb development with EEs--it's far more accurate to sex by color and pattern if you can.

 

[cassbickford]

Where are you located? I have a red EE rooster that's in the cull box for tonight...

But honestly, the light headed one with the red shoulders is 100% boy. You simply can't go by comb development with EEs--it's far more accurate to sex by color and pattern if you can.

Thank you! I regret that I did not originally purchase a rooster with the rest of my chicks, but I guess it does not matter if I already have one. I am in Maine and I have been talking to a lady who was ready to give me her rooster, but I guess I will tell her no now! I only want one roo. I read somewhere that 12:1 is a good hen to rooster ratio.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Thank you! I regret that I did not originally purchase a rooster with the rest of my chicks, but I guess it does not matter if I already have one. I am in Maine and I have been talking to a lady who was ready to give me her rooster, but I guess I will tell her no now! I only want one roo. I read somewhere that 12:1 is a good hen to rooster ratio.

Yep, 10 to 1 is the usual ratio, 12 to 1 is fine, too. The more hens per rooster, the higher the chance that some eggs won't be fertilized, but that's not really a huge problem. We keep 3-5 roosters per 75 hens, so our ratio is much larger, but we also don't have all fertile eggs and have to pen a rooster and selected hens up for a few days to make sure of fertility if we want to hatch chicks.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I believe they are all pullets.

The one with the red shoulders, is this the bird's head here?

If so, it's a pullet - not a cockerel.


Males usually do get red in their wings, but it's at the wing bows. (more towards the shoulder) Plus, males show the 3 rows on their pea comb really early.

See the pictures here for the coloring males get in their wings.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/790420/ee-roo-or-pullet/0_50#post_11469117

 

[donrae]

I'm also thinking they're both female. I've had a bird with similar color I wrote off as a male as a young bird, then really looked at it a few months later and noticed the difference. Like mine, this bird has red farther back on the wind, and up across the back, making it a very soft pattern, not bold and splashy. My hen now has some reddish color over much of her body, it's a very soft diffuse pattern over top of grey. I'd not make any firm decisions yet and maybe post pics again in 3-4 weeks. I think they will both have very pretty adult patterns, the darker headed one has a pretty kind of unusual buff to her color.

 

[Laci7210]

I also have one ee that I got from a hatchery. I ordered 5 pullets and they sent me an extra. Would they have sent me a roo as the extra? One of the ee's acts like a roo! When I reach my hand into their pen, it like puffs up it's neck and tries to go after my hand! All of the others just get away! I dont have a pic yet but I can try to get one tomorrow.