Is my Easter Egger a Rooster?

[NathanG]

So I'm new at raising chickens and I bought my chickens from Tractor Supply (didn't know any other place at the time). I was told all the chickens I bought were sexed and females. But the past two mornings I've heard crowing coming from the coop. One chicken in particular looks completely different from all other chickens. How can I tell if it is the rooster? I have attached pictures as it won't allow me to get closer for better pics

 

[sylviethecochin]

In Easter Eggers especially, but really, in any population where mixing of colours is a thing, those red wing bars signify the presence of a mahogany gene. Which only expresses as red wing bars in a male.

You have a male.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes that is your crower.

He has make saddle feathers (pointy feathers in front of the tail). Only males get the pointed ones.

Even experienced sexers get it wrong sometimes....although more people tend to end up with males from TSC than other places.

 

[BuckeyeFoodie]

So, on top of the obvious, (which is if it's crowing, it's a roo) EE roos have longer tails, and a more pronounced comb than the hens. Roos also tend to have thicker legs than hens. Imho, you have a roo there - hard to tell about the comb, but the tail feathers are there.

As long as you live in an area where it's ok to have roos, and he doesnt become aggressive, you should be fine having him as part of your flock. Roos are the watchdogs of the flock, protecting their ladies from predators.

Chick sexing is not 100% accurate, so a roo will get mixed in now-and-then. It's pretty common, and like I said, as long as you are in an area where it's allowed (a lot of cities prohibit roos from urban flocks), you should be just fine.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Yes I would say that is your cockerel right there.

 

[sourland]

cockerel

 

[debid]

Yep, the vent sexer missed the nub on that guy. It's an art form and the most experienced vent sexers are aging out with few training to fill their shoes. I'm always impressed when my order is 100% accurate as I know that is no small feat.

Don't blame TSC for this. The hatchery they ordered from has access to a very limited pool of talent and even the best miss one now and then. I've heard that EEs have a wide variety of the various shapes the male nub can take so they are more challenging than most breeds.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

agreed, those saddle feathers and the coloring on him is all male.

 

[cstephens1987]

Definitely a cockerel. His wing bars, red comb, pointy saddle feathers, etc. all indicate male

 

[NathanG]

Thank you all for your advice! My wife won't admit that we have a Male Now the question is, how will this affect collecting eggs?