Is My EE A He?

[ChickenChick46]

This is the most uncooperative and spastic little chick ever. But is this early red leakage on this chick? And since it's (I think) a bantam EE, does the red leakage indicate cockerel?

The chick is 3 weeks old this week.

I got several pictures, but none are great. This chick is crazy! Also, on its chest, that discoloration isn't an injury. I thought it was, but I've checked it over and it is just a clump of feathers coming in.

Thank you for any thoughts.

 

[nuthatched]

Too early yet to say for sure

 

[redinator]

This is the most uncooperative and spastic little chick ever. But is this early red leakage on this chick? And since it's (I think) a bantam EE, does the red leakage indicate cockerel?

The chick is 3 weeks old this week.

I got several pictures, but none are great. This chick is crazy! Also, on its chest, that discoloration isn't an injury. I thought it was, but I've checked it over and it is just a clump of feathers coming in.

Thank you for any thoughts.

I wouldn't guess cockerel just yet since there's still quite a bit of down that needs to feather out.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Too early yet to say for sure

I figured it might be. It just went from gray/white to that rust color like overnight and concerned me.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I wouldn't guess cockerel just yet since there's still quite a bit of down that needs to feather out.

Hopefully it's female. I know for sure one of the others in this group is a cockerel and will be rehoming him.

 

[redinator]

Hopefully it's female. I know for sure one of the others in this group is a cockerel and will be rehoming him.

I hold out hope unless it's super obvious. I tend to keep the males until they start causing a problem and weed out the ones with a bad attitude.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Is the blushing along the comb (versus the comb itself)? Then I'd say no. Some just seem to color out that way. I've had the same questions myself!

 

[FrostRanger]

I figured it might be. It just went from gray/white to that rust color like overnight and concerned me.

I wouldn't say either way yet, the color could end up making sense in its adult pattern. I had a pullet that got a red patch early on. She ended up just being a big redish hen who laid green eggs. Post more pictures in a few weeks, we should have a better idea of what the color means in the context of its pattern

 

[ChickenChick46]

Is the blushing along the comb (versus the comb itself)? Then I'd say no. Some just seem to color out that way. I've had the same questions myself!

It is definitely along the comb and not on it. I know it's still super early, but that rust appeared on its shoulders seemingly overnight and kinda threw me.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I hold out hope unless it's super obvious. I tend to keep the males until they start causing a problem and weed out the ones with a bad attitude.

Right now I've got 4 proven males. The youngest I will definitely be rehoming because he's the same breed as Gilbert. I don't need 2 of them. I've got 2 porcelain d'Uccles now, and one of them may be rehomed as well, depending on how their temperaments turn out. That would leave me with 2 males, if everyone else is female. And 8 to 10 females. I probably still need more pullets for 2 males.