Help- male issue?

[ella2025]

That’s what I mean—how do they make a wheaten olive egger? They have to use a blue-egg layer (I assume they’re using Ameraucanas for that since the hen in that photo is an wheaten Ameraucana). But then they would need a dark-egg laying breed for the male. What combination of breeds are they using to make a specific color of olive egger? I suspect they aren’t breeding wheaten colored chicks but chicks from a wheaten Ameraucana and a BCM rooster. So your cockerel wouldn’t be identifiable by color alone until male-specific feathers show up.

I also suck at chicken genetics, but I would guess they use a Wheaten ameraucana x Wheaten maran. There's definitely Am genetics in those olive eggers as the birds have a pea comb and beard+muffs. I'm not sure if the same coloring from 2 different breeds will make an offspring of that color. But just looking at color, not even considering the red comb, Captain is definitely a rooster.

 

[ella2025]

Yes, all from Meyer hatchery. Captain Seems he might have some sort of a defect- respiratory issue. Antibiotics, antifungals, change of scenery. Nothing helped. He’s always panting even in just a reasonable 78° indoors.
—

This is 4 mongrels first day out in the coop – it’s closed off from the other two adult chickens that are free ranging. So they get to basically explore what will be their new digs without fear.

I can still see the significant angst between those two. But then my fingers are definitely crossed that my black Americuana – is actually a pullet and not a roo

But if my Wheaton turns out to be a palette? But then I don’t care. It’s super awesome.

Because I need my chicken math to add up- and pass the exam I made hubby and I study for at great length. Thanks to the BYC community for helping me make the decision as to which chickens would be most beneficial for our lifestyle and choices.

I have a bit of experience with pea combs as I have a Splash Am rooster and all the chicks we hatch have pea combs and a beard. So I'm pretty good at determining sex from pea combs. I'm pretty sure at Kraken's age a pullet should have a "line"-looking comb that is yellow. Kraken's is oval, has the peas already, and looks exactly like my cockerel's. That's what leads me to believe he is a rooster.