Easter Eggers, do I have a Roo or just some dominant chick-a-dees???🐥🐓

[NorthFLChickenChick]

Hi all…I started a brand new flock a little over 4 weeks ago. With my previous flock up north, we didn’t know what we were doing and we just grabbed eight of the cutest chicks in the bin at TSC. We ended up with all pulleys, a silkie, a bantam, four golden comets and two cuckoo marans. Once they all became laying age, the Marans were definitely at the top of the pecking order…the comets, per there nature, were Switzerland, and the little ones got pushed around by the Marans. When the Silkie died suddenly at 11 months, the bantam was on her own, and it broke my heart. Fortunately, she was little and fast and could fly, so she could take care of herself, but I always wished I had more little friends for her, and this time I was purposeful with my breed selection.

We have a local family farm that sells chicks and pullets of all ages and breeds, and we bought four Easter Eggers, two light brahmas, a buff and a lavender Orpington, a black australorp, a RIR, a gold laced Wyandotte and two silkies. I figured this would be a pretty laid back flock that would be lovely to look at, family friendly, and produce a decent variety and quantity of eggs. The only two hens that I have personality concerns about reecking order are the RIR and the Wyandotte, but figure the rest of the flock should even them out.

Now that they are 4 1/2 weeks old, there is definitely a pecking order already, and it’s nothing like I was predicting. The EEs are running the show, and there are two in particular that I suspect might be Roos, or are just coronating themselves co-queens. I know EEs aren’t easy to tell due to small pea combs, but I heard there are sexing experts on here so I figured I’d post some pics to get some thoughts. BTW, I’d like a roo, so I won’t be upset if I have one…not sure if two will work though with only 12 hens. Thanks in advance!

 

[JedJackson]

It is really too young to be sure. 6 weeks is the right age to start sexing based on combs. However, based on color pattern, I can make guesses. Females EEs tend to have an even pattern, and male Easter eggers tend to have splotchy, irregular coloring. So my guesses at this point are that 2 and 4 are pullets, 1 is a cockerel, and 3 is kind of in between. Post back in 2 or 3 weeks if you can, and good luck.

 

[NorthFLChickenChick]

It is really too young to be sure. 6 weeks is the right age to start sexing based on combs. However, based on color pattern, I can make guesses. Females EEs tend to have an even pattern, and male Easter eggers tend to have splotchy, irregular coloring. So my guesses at this point are that 2 and 4 are pullets, 1 is a cockerel, and 3 is kind of in between. Post back in 2 or 3 weeks if you can, and good luck.

Thanks! Based on behavior, #2 and 3 are the ones who started making me start looking at them more closely, especially since EEs, I’ve been told, are supposed to be more docile…and these four are all pretty rambunctious compared to the rest of my girls, but Hazel and Hellcat (2/3) are particularly rowdy and I’ve noticed them pecking the others and “chest bumping”

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

Can’t be positive but they look like pullets so far… keyword “so far”.
I had an EE who was super dominant as a chick and now she’s just the flock “I do what I want who needs a flock” hen

 

[BastyPutt]

It is really too young to be sure. 6 weeks is the right age to start sexing based on combs. However, based on color pattern, I can make guesses. Females EEs tend to have an even pattern, and male Easter eggers tend to have splotchy, irregular coloring. So my guesses at this point are that 2 and 4 are pullets, 1 is a cockerel, and 3 is kind of in between. Post back in 2 or 3 weeks if you can, and good luck.

This is very well said and I agree here with the gender conclusions at this point.

I am a leaning a little heavier on 3 being a cockerel though.

 

[NorthFLChickenChick]

Hey all, it’s been a minute since I posted in this thread…been busy getting the coop and run finished for my ladies

So here’s the 10 week updated pics on my Easter Eggers or “Americana’s” as they were advertised at the chick farm

The two who exhibit the most dominant behavior are McLaren and Hellcat. I have a total of 13 chickens and they are definitely the ones who stand out…the rest of my flock is intentionally docile, for the most part, brahmas, Orpingtons, silkies, the only two who may be peckish are my RIR and Gold Wyandotte, but they don’t mess with these two Eggers.

I’m really wanting a rooster, so if out of 13 hens NONE ends up being a boy, I’m going to have to go to a rescue and grab one, but I don’t want to do that until I know for sure that all my chicks are really chicks


Thanks in advance for your advice!!

 

[JustBabyMargo]

All pictured above are pullets. You’ve got lots of pretty colors!