Is Fanny Lou really a Lou? 12 almost 13 week old Easter Egger

[GApeachmama]

So…. I picked these up from the local Hatchery/Feed and Mill store. I believe they get their chicks from Cackle Hatchery. I picked up 2 EE chicks to round out my flock. Peaches is sweet and a gorgeous silver white color and loves treats. She’s small compared to Fanny Lou. Fanny Lou is a cuties with black and gold coloring. Fanny Lou isn’t really interested in treats. She just seems to watch Peaches and they hate being separated.

I’ve been watching Fanny Lou. She seems huge compared to Peaches and eats A LOT. We thought Peaches was small because Fanny was dominating the feeder. It seemed to get better once I switched feeders. Today we looked and Fanny’s tail feather seem to be starting to curve downward and are iridescent. We also noted a fairly upright stance and iridescent tail feathers.

Is Fanny Lou really Lou? Hoping not because we will most likely have to get rid of them. Fingers crossed.

TL;DR Fanny Lou is about 13 weeks with black iridescent tail feathers, much bigger than hatch mate, doesn’t really eat treats and walks kind of upright.

 

[MommyGirl]

it’s a girl! She beautiful

 

[NatJ]

They both look female to me.

Fanny Lou.... seems huge compared to Peaches and eats A LOT.

Fanny’s tail feather seem to be starting to curve downward and are iridescent. We also noted a fairly upright stance and iridescent tail feathers.

Irridescent feathers can happen in females and in males.

Tail feathers curving over, at least a little bit, can happen in both sexes. It appears to be happening in both of your current ones (the one you think might be male, and the one you are pretty sure is female).

Different sizes can be pretty common even when they are the same sex and the same breed or mix.

A male would typically have a comb that is bigger and much more red than a female of this age.

A male would probably be starting to grow saddle feathers by this age (skinny pointy feathers, that grow from the back in front of the tail, and eventually they get long and hang down on both sides of the tail.)

TL;DR Fanny Lou is about 13 weeks with black iridescent tail feathers, much bigger than hatch mate, doesn’t really eat treats and walks kind of upright.

I've never noticed treat-eating and stance to be reliable indicators of sex. (That could mean it doesn't work for sexing, or it could mean that I just don't pay enough attention to those details.)

 

[GApeachmama]

They both look female to me.




Irridescent feathers can happen in females and in males.

Tail feathers curving over, at least a little bit, can happen in both sexes. It appears to be happening in both of your current ones (the one you think might be male, and the one you are pretty sure is female).

Different sizes can be pretty common even when they are the same sex and the same breed or mix.

A male would typically have a comb that is bigger and much more red than a female of this age.

A male would probably be starting to grow saddle feathers by this age (skinny pointy feathers, that grow from the back in front of the tail, and eventually they get long and hang down on both sides of the tail.)


I've never noticed treat-eating and stance to be reliable indicators of sex. (That could mean it doesn't work for sexing, or it could mean that I just don't pay enough attention to those details.)

I appreciate your insight! The tail, size and especially those big ole legs threw me off. Poor Peaches is just so much smaller. I’m a first timer so I’m full of questions.

 

[FrostRanger]

In addition to what was already said, that color pattern on Fanny is female specific, she is definitely a she

 

[GApeachmama]

In addition to what was already said, that color pattern on Fanny is female specific, she is definitely a she

I’m more comfortable with heritage breeds. I didn’t know there was an EE female specific color pattern.

 

[FrostRanger]

I’m more comfortable with heritage breeds. I didn’t know there was an EE female specific color pattern.

It's not specific to EEs, in general, when you have a partridge bird, females will have an even pattern like Fanny does whereas the males have a splotchy uneven pattern often with red patches mixed in. Unless you have a hen feathered roo (rare), you won't see such an even coloration in a male

 

[GApeachmama]

It's not specific to EEs, in general, when you have a partridge bird, females will have an even pattern like Fanny does whereas the males have a splotchy uneven pattern often with red patches mixed in. Unless you have a hen feathered roo (rare), you won't see such an even coloration in a male

Got it. Thanks!