Can you tell a rooster at 3 weeks old?

[feathers_3]

I have 8 babies that are about 3 weeks old. They are all mutts with part Aracauna in them. I have two that are at least twice the size of the other chicks and have a pretty defined combs. Is it too early to assume that these 2 are Roosters?

Thanks!!!

 

[BlazeJester]

I have found that well-defined and RAISED pea combs are a good indication of a rooster chick. It's very likely, however, that your birds are easter eggers, as Araucana are quite rare.

 

[feathers_3]

I'm calling them part Araucana because that's what I was told they were. They came from my uncle who has bred chickens for nearly 50 years and has had true Araucana chickens and a lot of his birds have Araucana in them. But these are a mix of Araucana, Americana, Bantam, and Black Giant. Many of them have a top not, muffs, beards and/or the neck tufts. But I really hope these are not roosters because I do not want 3 of my 13 chickens to be roosters. I may trade them out with him in a few weeks when its easier to tell.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I bought RIR pullets last year and at about 3 weeks I was pretty sure that one of them was a cockerel. It didn't feather out as fast and seemed to walk more erect than the rest of them. Turns out....I was right. I live in a very rural area so I could keep him but really didn't want one. Oh well, he really is a sweetie as far as people go but he's a little rough with my girls so he has his own little bachelor pad.

 

[feathers_3]

These 2 actually started feathering much earlier than the others and are much more developed. I hope these 2 guys are just going to be bigger because I can already see how beautiful one of them is going to be. It is a grey color, or blue as some people call it, and has some red edging around the feathers. Never seen one like it, so I am really hoping it's a hen! Also, if its a little more aggressive or feisty than the others is that a hint that it's a rooster or maybe that it's just bigger or healthier?

 

[BackyardCoop]

I bought RIR pullets last year and at about 3 weeks I was pretty sure that one of them was a cockerel. It didn't feather out as fast and seemed to walk more erect than the rest of them. Turns out....I was right. I live in a very rural area so I could keep him but really didn't want one. Oh well, he really is a sweetie as far as people go but he's a little rough with my girls so he has his own little bachelor pad.

I noticed the same thing. I still am not for sure if some of them are roosters but I know on our bantam I was right! He's a little cocky thing, I have to watch him! He began to walk a lot taller and with more pride at only a few weeks.

Still not to sure on our RIR's. Can't wait to find out if I am right on them!