Help- male issue?

[kattabelly]

but curled feathers on the tail now.

He's probably just getting ready to lose them soon. Pullets' tail feathers also often go through stages of looking curved/curled or sticking out a really long way when they're at that age that seems like one long neverending juvenile moult.

He's a bit young to be growing proper sickle feathers yet.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I have a Black Ameraucana from the same hatchery. Ordered a pullet, turned into a cockerel.
He seems to be a pretty decent rooster (my flock just turned 1)

I don't have good picture examples, but here

First pic, he's 12-13 weeks

Second pic, 15-16 weeks. (He crowed for the first time that day)

 

[ella2025]

Update. So Kraken is a major bully- making sure all the hens stay in check- leader of the pack, and aggressive toward anything (like lizards or butterflies) near the flock, not crowing yet, but curled feathers on the tail now. @ella2025 was right.

I contacted Meyer Hatchery, and yes- they think it is a rooster. They refunded me in full.

Therefore- my chicken math is all wonky- two roosters to only a few hens? yeah, right. So I purchased 9 more females... they ship december 15th. Totally different setup and integration protocol.

View attachment 4265840View attachment 4265841

Im glad you're able to keep him! If he's not aggressive to you but aggressive to anything else (and him being more assertive over the hens should subside at least a little bit as he matures) he should be a great rooster. Also his beard is so fluffy! Totally the right decision to get more chickies. You can never have enough . What breeds did you get?

 

[CabritaChicks]

Im glad you're able to keep him! If he's not aggressive to you but aggressive to anything else (and him being more assertive over the hens should subside at least a little bit as he matures) he should be a great rooster. Also his beard is so fluffy! Totally the right decision to get more chickies. You can never have enough . What breeds did you get?

Oh yeah! the beard is massive, gets bigger everday it seems.
The selection was limited as I wanted them asap to help make integration easier.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Oh yeah! the beard is massive, gets bigger everday it seems.
The selection was limited as I wanted them asap to help make integration easier.
View attachment 4266669

They certainly do have limited options this time of year
Still, nice selection
I'm a sucker for my splash ameraucana hen.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

How do they get color to breed true in olive eggers? I suck at chicken genetics but I suppose it depends what you make them out of. Clearly they’re using Ameraucana with something else…but I can’t think of what to cross Am with to make that light colored hen. Unless that photo is of a wheaten Am hen and the male they use in the cross?

Because they breed 2 wheatens together (1 blue layer, 1 dark brown) I have a Wheaten Marans Roo and a Splash Wheaten Ameraucana, when I breed them together, I get Blue Wheaten OE's

 

[ella2025]

Oh yeah! the beard is massive, gets bigger everday it seems.
The selection was limited as I wanted them asap to help make integration easier.
View attachment 4266669

Wow! Looks like you're gonna be getting lots of blue eggs! Ooh and you could breed some blue purebred ameraucanas with the splash female too.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Wow! Looks like you're gonna be getting lots of blue eggs! Ooh and you could breed some blue purebred ameraucanas with the splash female too.

Yeah, I was really hoping to breed my wheaten rooster with some blue for a chicken who lays green eventually. Cream/blue/green is basically what I was going for- and hopefully a pink sneaks in with teh Egger. I would have easily gone with a Marans (as my other one was murdered by a dog)- but they were epically sold out. And I dont think I should wait longer, or have the patience to do this all over again so soon. It's planting season, so I have lots of chores to do!

I wanted 4 more, hubby said get ten. I chose 8, and added the 9th last minute as shipping is not easy, and accidents happen.