EE pullet or roo?

[Harriet123]

I picked up a bunch of what tractor supply called ameraucana, but I'm pretty sure are Easter Eggers ... I've not had either breed before and this one is is my unknown. They're supposed to be all pullets but I've always ended up with 1 or 2 roos every time I purchase.. They're around 8 weeks old. The gray coloring and red coming in is making me think roo but I'm hoping this one is a girl!

 

[Tahai]

Raccoons are out and about in the daylight more often than we expect. It's a myth that coons seen in the daytime must be sick. This time of year, mothers are hunting nonstop to feed their young and soon they will start taking their young out to forage and learn..

 

[Harriet123]

Unfortunately we'll never know if this one was a boy or girl. Something is getting into my run during the day while I'm at work... 2nd one in 3 weeks. First time I was convinced it was a hawk: body left, feathers everywhere, picked at and left. I re-secured the run, and ran chicken wire over the top of all but one area that some tree branches cover and along the ground to fence line.... This time, I'm not sure. 3 of my older hens are missing tail feathers but no obvious bite/scratch marks, this guy (gal) is gone, some feathers around but not many, but no body. Seems too heavy for a hawk to have gotten in and carried it off.. Again inside the run but near the fence line. Can't see where anything has dug or could have gotten under the 6 foot fence. So sad. My 2 favorites from this batch gone.

 

[Harriet123]

Here we are about 20 days later. I'll keep updating as things develop.

 

[MommyGirl]

Looks like a pullet to me! But I’m no expert

 

[Tahai]

How sad for you. My guess is raccoon or other tree climbing predator.

 

[Harriet123]

I thought a raccoon, except both attacks have been during the day and I'd expect them to come at night. Maybe a fox.. but it would have to jump pretty high to get back out with a chicken. Setting up a camera to figure it out, though I'm hoping I never see anything on it because whatever it is stays away!

 

[Harriet123]

Umm. So this happened today when I went out to check on my girls... I have NO idea where this chicken has been the last week or how it got back. Appears unharmed, just hanging out near the coop waiting to be let back in. .

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

Wow! What a blessing to have it back and unharmed. I had run ins with possums and racoons, ended up trapping them, I did release 1 until another BYC member advised not to do so because it could effect another flock and I did not want that on my plate, so I ended up using the SSS method. Sorry for your other losses but happy that this one came back, keep us updated.

 

[JedJackson]

It is an Easter egger. The plumage coloring says female but that early redness of comb says male. I'm not positive either way at this point. Best to watch that comb for the next few weeks. Increased redness and comb growth before 14 weeks means you probably have a cockerel.