Hen or roo? Breed?

[Erwilcox]

Gender/breed of this chicken?

-8 weeks old

-Got from a friend’s friend who hatched chickens for a school project and didn’t know what to do with them after. So I truly have no clue on breed or where it came from!

Thank you!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Easter egger cockerel

 

[Erwilcox]

Easter egger cockerel

Out of curiosity, what are the telltale signs for this chicken specifically? I’d love to learn more!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Out of curiosity, what are the telltale signs for this chicken specifically? I’d love to learn more!

For breed or gender?

 

[Erwilcox]

For breed or gender?

For gender, sorry!

 

[BastyPutt]

For gender, sorry!

A larger comb is one, but not always reliable. The sign that says this bird is certainly a cockerel is the red plumage and it's location.

 

[Tumbleweedlynn]

I would say olive Egger cockerels. Beautiful

 

[house1917]

Out of curiosity, what are the telltale signs for this chicken specifically? I’d love to learn more!

So a few “tells”…

1) those feet! The foot to body ratio is high- could be cockerel
2) red shoulders. If there’s a large break in pattern with red feathers or splotchy red on the upper wing/lower neck- likely cockerel
3) neck to body pattern transition. With EEs, pullets tend to have a consistent pattern from the top of their heads, down their necks to their shoulders. Then a new color or pattern starts. There’s a choppy transition on your youngster!

When he’s a little older- like 10-12 weeks- you’ll see pointed hackle (neck) and long/pointed saddle (break between hack and tail) feathers fill in.

I think EEs are great birds, so if you can keep a rooster he’d be a great buddy!