How many Cockerels do you see?

[BkyrdFarmer]

Age 15 weeks. The one with all the fancy red and blue and hackles is more than probably a rooster although he is small compared to some of the others. I thought the other six are hens but now Im not sure. Non3 of them act like roosters, not even the one that looks like a rooster. He does kinda keep the girlsnin line but so do a couple of the bigger hens. I look at the legs of the largest hens and they are much bigger than the supposed rooster? I worry that if one of them is a rooster maybe 2 or 3 of them could be two. They all look like they have hackle feathers to me, long and pointy and they all flare their hackles so that doesnt mean anything. The largest black and tan one that has the darkest tan with the black neck seems like she might be a rooster but her coloring doesnt seem to be roostery? However her along with one of the orange and white birds seems like they have huge legs compared to the others, even the roosters? Also their combs seem darker and bigger but none of them have very much in the way of combs and I dont see any wattles, not even on the supposed rooster. I have not heard a single crow. And none of them chase the others around. They fight a little and get cranky with eachother sometimes but there hasnt been any display of heavy rooster behavior. Maybe the blue and red rooster acts a little like a protector and referee but so do a couple of the larger hens. Lastly the big dark black and tan one as well as the orange and white one with the orange beard seems like they are starting to have tiny tiny spur talons. But its hard to tell if it is spurs or just little bumps on their ankles? I guess those two are the ones I am on the fence about? Here we are at 15 weeks and now Im not sure if I have one rooster or three? THANKS EVERYONE, I have only been a chicken dad for 15 weeks. It could be 10 more weeks before I find out who lays eggs??? How many roosters do you guys see from 7 birds?

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

Bought these from Cackle Hatchery, the rooster paperwork said it was a bluebell? Otherwise they are just listed as EE. Not sure if they are all Prairie Bluebells but more than likely if the cockerel is then they probably are all bluebells? I realize EE isnt even a real breed let alone their new little sub non breeds? Makes it confusing for sure LOL

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

A Prairie Bluebell is basically just another name for an EE. And all of them are for sure pullets.

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

I very much like the sound of that! Thats what I thought. They are for sure easter eggers, the hatcheries just have fancy new names for them now, I guess. So what about the blue and Red one. I was told he was for sure a rooster and he certainly looks like one if he aint a little small. Do you think all of them are pullets, or do you think the 6 or pullets and one cockerel? Thanks btw, for your time

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I very much like the sound of that! Thats what I thought. They are for sure easter eggers, the hatcheries just have fancy new names for them now, I guess. So what about the blue and Red one. I was told he was for sure a rooster and he certainly looks like one if he aint a little small. Do you think all of them are pullets, or do you think the 6 or pullets and one cockerel? Thanks btw, for your time

The blue and red one is also a pullet. She’s got a teeny little comb and no male feathers that I can see. Her coloring did make me pause for a second, as cockerels tend to have red or gold patches on their shoulders. But her feathers look rounded, and the gold is more spread out. She’s a pullet.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

All pullets.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I don’t see any cockerels!

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

Yep no crowing as of yet so maybe the problem is that I thought a hen was a rooster. Judging my other hens off of a hen. LOL yes Wattles, I stand corrected. I actually gaave a rooster away because he was mean from the start. I liked him but he was for sure a rooster. My nurse has him now, she has a sort of rescue farm. I thought my favorite girl turned into a rooster, and was happy cause she is cool, or he, or she? I wanted one rooster to help keep my girls safe, I suppose I can always add one if I get none. We shall see. They seem pretty caucious. I apreciate it. A few weeks back everyone here thought her a cockerel also. They were sure of it but it was still pretty early. Guess if they all lay eggs they are all girls, right? 7 sisters is fine.

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

Sorry my spelling is so bad, no spell check and a brain tumor. I do the best I can.

 

[BkyrdFarmer]

Yeah, it makes more sense that Storm is a pullet. Storm is and always has been one of my smallest birds since day 2. She was all blue or gray of different shades the first several weeks. She always protected the smallest black one and from the other rooster that we gave away. Storm was a fitting name, loyal loving and fierce. Perfect combo for me. So when everyone said she was a he I was still happy because regardless of what Storm is, storm is a really cool bird that Im very fond of. I dont care what she is in truth, she is cool and storm is a keeper but it does makes sense now that you guys think she is a pullet. She really acts allot more like a hen than a rooster. They are all very quiet. They dont make much noise unless they are really happy or upset over something. They are pretty sweet birds so far and we are, all of us, learning this stuff for the first time. We are just 'Winging It' until we get it all figured out