Is this a cockerel?

[Sinadrea]

Chick

is about 4 weeks old, Polish, Easter Egger mix. The tail is starting to make me think he is. Thank you for your input!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Too early to tell. I don't see much red in the comb, and roos won't get their signature tail feathers until 12-16 weeks (I think... someone correct me if I'm wrong). Really cute and unique looking chick!

 

[Icehen99]

I think it’s still pretty early !! If comb starts turning red soon I’d suspect it’s a roo

 

[Vicker]

The first signs I go by are how they carry themselves, leg size and general behavior. Males walk more upright, usually have longer, thicker legs, and tend to be the first to jump up on top of things when they're little. I've noticed at even a few days old, the ones that always want to sit on top of the mother hen turn out to be roosters.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Feathers are not an indicator of gender at 4 weeks old. Male specific feathers don't usually start coming in until about 12 weeks. And the speed at which they feather in is dependant on genetics...pullets with the slow feathering gene will have shorter tails than pullets with the fast feathering gene. For speed of feathering to have any indication of male vs female that trait has to be specifically bred for.

 

[Sinadrea]

The first signs I go by are how they carry themselves, leg size and general behavior. Males walk more upright, usually have longer, thicker legs, and tend to be the first to jump up on top of things when they're little. I've noticed at even a few days old, the ones that always want to sit on top of the mother hen turn out to be roosters.

I've seen it sit on the mom once and it has been able to jump on tree stumps at about 3 weeks old. Also was pecking at pullets twice It's size.
It's hard for me to tell because it was the only successful hatched/grown chick out of what I had, but it does seems to be doing pretty well for itself.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The male specific feathers that come in around 3 months are the saddle and hackle feathers, not the tail feathers. I use curved tail feathers in chicks as a clue that it might possibly be a male but some pullets can have those also. At 4 weeks curving tail feathers are a clue but are not definitive.

It is still too early to be sure so do not do anything dramatic. Looking at posture and what appear to be thick legs I suspect it is a male even at 4 weeks. A lot of these things are just clues, not necessarily definitive.

In another week try posting a close-up showing the head so we can see the comb and wattles. Add another photo showing the legs and posture. We may be able to help more then.

 

[Sinadrea]

Probably still too early to tell but I'm adding pictures. This little one is very skittish, being an only child and mom has left it on it's own so I can't get super close to it yet.

 

[Sinadrea]

ChickView attachment 4130105View attachment 4130106 is about 4 weeks old, Polish, Easter Egger mix. The tail is starting to make me think he is. Thank you for your input!View attachment 4130107

Update 5 weeks old:

Still need a close up of the legs but its face seems to be reddening.
I integrated it in our new coop with the younger pullets so worst case, hopefully it gets its own small flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A close-up of the head would help. I do not see the reddening up.

I get mixed vibes. Male from the heavy legs and slight curl of the tail feathers (some pullets have curled tail feathers but it is mostly a make clue) but the posture is more female.