First Flock of 9 EE Hens- But One of These Things Is Not Like The Others!

[MidLifeChicks]

New to keeping chickens and I couldn't love them more but I picked up these 9 chicks from Meyer Hatchery 9 weeks ago and I noticed one of them really started to look different a few weeks ago. She was the smallest for awhile but suddenly had a big growth spurt and got really big. Her comb was always the biggest and most noticeable of the bunch and has really started to stand out. She developed rust colored spots on her wings and now she has really beautiful colors and yesterday I noticed spots of iridescent green feathers on her body and her tail feathers. The other 2 EE chicks have pretty standard brownish red feathers and smaller pale combs. It's confusing to me because she does not act like a rooster and doesn't make much noise at all and one of my Olive Egger Hens actually is the one that shows dominance in the group and is usually the first one to make an alarm noise and alert the group so I'm confused! Just need to know if I need to learn more about having roosters because I wasn't planning on it! Thanks!

 

[The Moonshiner]

At 9 weeks old I'm thinking that is a cockerel.

 

[LhickenChicken]

New to keeping chickens and I couldn't love them more but I picked up these 9 chicks from Meyer Hatchery 9 weeks ago and I noticed one of them really started to look different a few weeks ago. She was the smallest for awhile but suddenly had a big growth spurt and got really big. Her comb was always the biggest and most noticeable of the bunch and has really started to stand out. She developed rust colored spots on her wings and now she has really beautiful colors and yesterday I noticed spots of iridescent green feathers on her body and her tail feathers. The other 2 EE chicks have pretty standard brownish red feathers and smaller pale combs. It's confusing to me because she does not act like a rooster and doesn't make much noise at all and one of my Olive Egger Hens actually is the one that shows dominance in the group and is usually the first one to make an alarm noise and alert the group so I'm confused! Just need to know if I need to learn more about having roosters because I wasn't planning on it! Thanks!

I think that is a cockerel. Such a bummer, would have been a very beautiful hen. But you just can't change their genders. If you live in a city or town that doesn't allow cockerels, rehoming would be the best idea. I'm stating my opinion which doesn't mean it's right, I'm pretty inexperienced at sexing but I'm putting my best guess. I can tell my cocks apart from pullets most of the time but I may have two pullets in with the cockerels because I thought they were cocks! But combs don't lie.

Best of luck with your cock/hen!

 

[MidLifeChicks]

We are in the country so we will take care of him/her the best we can and hopefully it will all work out. I just thought all hens would be better for us since these are our first chickens and we are still learning but we will do the best we can. We love them all

 

[User105877]

99.5% sure thats a Cockerel

 

[Rhonda65]

We are in the country so we will take care of him/her the best we can and hopefully it will all work out. I just thought all hens would be better for us since these are our first chickens and we are still learning but we will do the best we can. We love them all

Why do the roos always have to be the most beautiful birds?!?!

 

[Coops Dad]

99.5% sure thats a Cockerel

I'll see your 99.5% and raise you the final .5%. That chicken is, without a doubt, a handsome little rooster.

 

[SilverBirds]

100% a cockerel.

 

[JedJackson]

Why do the roos always have to be the most beautiful birds?!?!

Male coloring is typically showier than female coloring because the males are the ones that have to attract mates.

 

[MidLifeChicks]

I'll see your 99.5% and raise you the final .5%. That chicken is, without a doubt, a handsome little rooster.

I've always said she's our prettiest hen but I guess I'll have to start saying handsome!