I have Rooster paranoia! Help!

[jstlitlome]

My chickies are 9 1/2 weeks old now. Today, they are out in their coop hanging out in the rain. Go figure!

It seems like everytime I go out there, I think that yet another chick is a rooster. The other day I thought they all were roosters! I am certain of one, and suspicious of others. Can you help me out? No one is crowing yet.

I have 8 large fowl and 2 Silkie bantys. I'm really not concerned about the bantys much either way, but only want one large fowl rooster.

This used to be Irene, but I have decided to start calling him Ivan. He is a Buff Orpington. I am fairly certain he is a rooster only because of his huge comb and wattles. He also leads the girls in at night. He is pretty docile and hangs with the in crowd.



This is Ivan hanging out with Virginia, my Silver Laced Wyandotte. Virginia is redder than I like so I'm concerned that she might be a rooster. So far she is somewhere in the middle of the pecking order. She does not like to be held or touched much.



This is Madge. She is very friendly and curious. I believe that she is going to be the head hen. That is of course unless she is a rooster. I have a friend that says that she looks just like her rooster. She has no red in the face yet though. She is the largest bird. Also, is she an Easter Egger or Americauna? I bought her at Feldmans as an Americauna.



Madge



Mabel, one of my two Barred Plymouth Rocks. I am fairly certain both of them are hens. They are both very curious, social birds. Mabel is a little more popular. And bigger.



Edith (left) and Mabel (right) (Clara Bell is in the middle)



Clara Bell. I'm pretty confident she is a hen. She hangs out with the in crowd. She is curious but does not like to be touched.



Clara Bell. Whatcha lookin' at? lol



Elmyra. She is my Black Austrolorp. She is gentle, and has always been offish. She is coming around to me a little lately though.



Flossie Mae. I got Flossie from the rainbow bin at Orscheln. I think she is a White Plymouth Rock. What do you think? White Plymouth Rock or White Leghorn? Pullet or Roo?
She is a very sweet chicken but has found herself at the bottom of the pecking order. Even one of my Silkie Bantys has been challenging her lately. I think she doesn't see well out of one eye and is pretty clutsy. When she was young she had an eye infection. She seems healthy, but is always dirty, poor girl. I have special affection for her.




Thank you for your input! This may set my heart at ease.

Leslie

 

[azcook]

I am not one to take the word of since I am very new to chickens and dont know much about each different breed... But I see only one Roo... I have Barred Rocks and from looking at yours I would be 100% that they are both hens..

 

[salt and pepper]

The buff orpington is a rooster, and the rest look like pullets.

 

[jstlitlome]

Whew! That's a huge relief! I think Ivan will make a good rooster. I really wanted Madge to be a hen because I wanted those blue/green eggs mixed in! Thank you!

 

[donrae]

The buff is a rooster and the slw is highly suspect. Wyandottes can be slow to mature, so you might want to post again in 3-4 weeks, but I'm seeing a lot of redness and those white patches on the wings are usually male coloration.

 

[jstlitlome]

argh. I will just have to wait then, I suppose. I really wanted that wyandotte. Think Ivan will make a better rooster, at least from how he is now. I'll just hold my breath for a few more weeks. Thank you!

Any ideas about whether Madge is an Easter Egger or Americauna?

 

[salt and pepper]

I have chicks that are little older then yours ( 10 1/2 weeks ) and one of my EEs got a bright comb early ( at 6 weeks ) and still ended up being a pullet, I would worry about size of the comb more then color, that's why I think your wyandotte is a pullet. Madge is an EE.

 

[jamie7100]

I think Madge is a lovely Easter Egger pullet

I am a little suspicious of your wyandotte too. The white around the shoulders looks pretty patchy and that can mean rooster as well as the redness in the face.

 

[jstlitlome]

Thanks all! That is very helpful. I really don't care if she is an Americauna or EE, but wan't to be sure that I'm calling her the right thing. She is a lovely chicken whatever the name.

 

[donrae]

Madge is an easter egger. With that nice pea comb, she should lay you green or blue eggs, though, and that's really what most of us want when we buy "ameraucana".