Gender reveal........ha

[virgs1025]

Hello, I am new to this forum and owning chickens/hens. We currently have 6 month old chickens. 3 are road island reds and 3 are easter eggers. 2 of my easter eggers are not laying yet. Can someone look at these pictures and determine if they are roosters? Also, on the gray easter egger under the beak seems to be wet and missing feathers maybe. Does this look normal? We have had to separate another easter egger (not pictured) because the road island reds (FOR SURE HENS) were pecking under her beak. So my question is also do I have a disease or mites or lice or something? Thanks in advance.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Need a side pic of the later chicken, checking for male feathering (hackle & saddle). The first (light colored one) is a pullet, getting ready to lay. Thinking the later (darker one) is also a pullet getting ready to lay but need to see the side view for feathering.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

We need pics of their saddle feathers, please.

 

[lomine]

I agree with ChickNanny13.

As for your other question. It's very common for the other birds to pick/groom the beards and muffs. Usually they are picking at food. My Am rooster has no beard or muff feathers left because the girls have picked them all out. If you are concerned about pests, check the base of their feathers. Look especially under their wings and around the vents. You'll either see the pests themselves or signs of them in those areas.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Pullets

 

[virgs1025]

Are these pics any better?

 

[lomine]

Yep, we can see the neck and tail. Both are for sure pullets.

 

[DobieLover]

For sure both pullets.
On a side note, do you let your birds out at all? That run looks a little cramped for 6 chickens.

 

[virgs1025]

For sure both pullets.
On a side note, do you let your birds out at all? That run looks a little cramped for 6 chickens.

We can't unfortunately. I have 2 dogs and all my neighbors dogs are drawn to our yard for some reason. So, I never know if a dog is on the loose until I find them crapping in my yard. lol Yes, I know it's small, but we are expanding the coop size to double the living space.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

 

[DobieLover]

Yes, I know it's small, but we are expanding the coop size to double the living space.

Thank you everyone for your replies.[/QUOTE]

Oh that's good!
I would try to give them as much space as you can seeing as you can't let them out. Going with the 10 sq ft minimum just doesn't seem to be enough especially with full time confinement. My run is sized at 18 sq ft per bird and I wish I'd made it bigger! But mine are out of the run about 90% of their waking hours.