Cockerel Crisis? Or imagination?

[BainbridgeFlock32]

Hi All! I'm a new chicken owner, what started with two chicks, quickly turned into what I thought would be a designer flock of 8 hens. We have three small kids and these have become beloved pets that we all dote on.

One fairly quickly started to shows signs of being a roo (Blue Austrolorp, not pictured) who has been crowing for quite some time and who's gender is not in question. He looks like a roo, is massive, acts like a roo, sounds like a roo. Ok, not great, but we are trying to accept what we knew was possible as the kids love him and cry when we mention rehoming him.

Then yesterday, one of our "hens" crowed. Ruth (chicken E in pics) is a 15 week old Americauna purchased from Meyer Hatchery (sexed as female) mail order. She's always been the "hen" most likely to challenge the roo, but is significantly smaller (as are all of the rest) and until yesterday we never doubted she was a hen. After doing some research, starting to think this is not a dominate hen crowing, but another rooster.

Now I'm seeing pointy hackle feathers on all of our pullets! Am I crazy? I sure hope so, because I am going to have a crisis with lots of roosters that my children love! Would love feedback from all of you experts!

Chicken A: Easter Egger, 14 weeks old, sexed female from mail order hatchery (via reputable local feed store). Same size as every other pullet and very docile.

Chicken B: same as A, purchased together. Also very docile.

Chicken C: Lavender Orpington, 14 weeks, same source/date as A and B. Also docile and seemingly not large.

Chicken D: Golden Laced Wyandotte, 15 weeks, purchased mail order from Meyers, sexed as female. Same story in terms of size (not larger than others) and personality (docile).

Did the best I could with pics...if you all need more, happy to provide them. Depending on opinions for this bunch, I'll share pics of the other two that I assume are pullets, but I've come to realize I know nothing, hahaha!

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. 'E' is a cockerel. All others are pullets.

 

[JedJackson]

I agree with sourland. E is a boy, the rest definitely are pullets.

 

[BainbridgeFlock32]

Thank goodness! Super appreciate the help!

 

[redinator]

View attachment 3894267View attachment 3894268View attachment 3894269View attachment 3894270View attachment 3894273View attachment 3894274View attachment 3894275View attachment 3894276View attachment 3894277Hi All! I'm a new chicken owner, what started with two chicks, quickly turned into what I thought would be a designer flock of 8 hens. We have three small kids and these have become beloved pets that we all dote on.

One fairly quickly started to shows signs of being a roo (Blue Austrolorp, not pictured) who has been crowing for quite some time and who's gender is not in question. He looks like a roo, is massive, acts like a roo, sounds like a roo. Ok, not great, but we are trying to accept what we knew was possible as the kids love him and cry when we mention rehoming him.

Then yesterday, one of our "hens" crowed. Ruth (chicken E in pics) is a 15 week old Americauna purchased from Meyer Hatchery (sexed as female) mail order. She's always been the "hen" most likely to challenge the roo, but is significantly smaller (as are all of the rest) and until yesterday we never doubted she was a hen. After doing some research, starting to think this is not a dominate hen crowing, but another rooster.

Now I'm seeing pointy hackle feathers on all of our pullets! Am I crazy? I sure hope so, because I am going to have a crisis with lots of roosters that my children love! Would love feedback from all of you experts!

Chicken A: Easter Egger, 14 weeks old, sexed female from mail order hatchery (via reputable local feed store). Same size as every other pullet and very docile.

Chicken B: same as A, purchased together. Also very docile.

Chicken C: Lavender Orpington, 14 weeks, same source/date as A and B. Also docile and seemingly not large.

Chicken D: Golden Laced Wyandotte, 15 weeks, purchased mail order from Meyers, sexed as female. Same story in terms of size (not larger than others) and personality (docile).

Did the best I could with pics...if you all need more, happy to provide them. Depending on opinions for this bunch, I'll share pics of the other two that I assume are pullets, but I've come to realize I know nothing, hahaha!

They do have a knack for making you doubt your sanity, lol. I agree E is the only cockerel in the bunch pictured.

They're all very beautiful birds. I have 3 Gold Laced Wyandottes in the brooder pen and they are little snuggle bugs.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have years of experience, and had one just like that, one day I was thinking, 'when are you going to start laying?' Took a good look, and thought, "dang it, never."

Some can be hard to tell. Currently hatched two out earlier, and I am pretty sure they are cockerels...???,,,maybe?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

With EE pullets, you don't have to look at details like hackle and saddle feathers. They just have a fairly common feather patterning, likel your A and B birds do. They have that EE "look." Once you get familiar with it, it's easy. As for EE males, look for a red or rusty shoulder patch, that's a common characteristic. Your cockerel has that "look of eagles," in his stance, body type and those sturdy legs he will need for breeding.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I hatched out two this spring (EE) and I thought I had one of each. Nope, both cockerels. They can be tricky.