how can you tell, and how early can you identify roosters?

[mikecoen]

My chicks were born February 12th so they are coming up on 2 months old this week. they are americaunas and all look the same, none seem to be roosters. I had bought 2 as straight run and thought at least one would be a rooster. I'm wondering if I have all pullets or if it is too early to really tell.

 

[Judy]

Welcome!

If they are from a hatchery they are most likely Easter Eggers (EE's) -- long story, but that is how to find them here. And EE's are notoriously hard to differentiate. Check out some of the pics in What Breed or Gender am I? I bought 6 sexed females and one turned out to be male. It was his pointy saddle feathers that first made me realize it, although now I know that mostly white EE's with some black feathering are very commonly male. Sometimes a male's legs will be a bit thicker and sometimes they have more of an upright stance, although neither is a sure sign.

 

[annep]

Quote:
I just learned this, when my EE crowed, and we confirmed that she was a he...Made good soup though!

 

[cubalaya]

you should be able to tell by the comb at about 4 weeks.

 

[mikecoen]

EE or Ameraucana chiks are now 8 weeks old, they seem to be all pullets. They have no combs yet. None crow. They don't cluck much yet unless they are really startled; they mostly still peep. Very healthy, curious, soon to be tried out in the chicken tractor but out of the weather in their coop now, no heat added and doing quite well in every way. I'll post a pic of the chicken tractor as my avatar once I am allowed by this site to do so. Thanks to you all for your replies.

 

[giefdog]

I got 6 Americana's at 5 wks ,they were from a hatchery and the lady I got them from said, the ones with blue marker on their head were ROO's and their is one that has a bigger tail that stands up more and also has a bigger and more red comb as they reach 9 wks, but no crowing or any thing

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I got two EEs from a feed store two years ago, and I figured out that one was a roo when he began to crow at about 11 weeks old.


I confirmed the other one was female when the roo began humping the other birds, who were all pullets.