Is this a covert rooster?

[Mom 2em All]

I have a few Easter Eggers that are pullets... and then there is this “pullet” that is chased and picked on by the cockerels relentlessly. My boys are at that awful teenage hormone stage where they drive everyone crazy but this seems to be the one they never stop chasing. Missing tail feathers from them grabbing. And I have to wonder if it is also a cockerel. My girls are getting red combs - and everyone is about 18 weeKs old. In the first picture, it’s the second one.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

She looks like a pullet to me! She doesn't have the feathers for a male and her comb isn't developed yet. she just may be a late bloomer! Her comb may just take a little longer to redden but the size looks fine to me

 

[keesmom]

Pullet.

 

[Mr Beaks]

Pullet. I have one just like her.

 

[Mom 2em All]

thank you! I wish she would defend herself instead of running around like crazy and exhausting herself. She is so much bigger than the OEGB that is most relentless.

 

[LaFleche]

thank you! I wish she would defend herself instead of running around like crazy and exhausting herself. She is so much bigger than the OEGB that is most relentless.

This may be just the reason why her comb is not getting red, all the chasing is stressing her out. As she might be the lowest pullet in the pecking order the cockerels try to dominate and mate with her.

I would suggest to separate the cockerels from the pullets, with all this chasing around they will not have the needed rest and amount of food intake for proper development. And they even might get seriously hurt.

How many cockerels do you have?

 

[Mom 2em All]

This may be just the reason why her comb is not getting red, all the chasing is stressing her out. As she might be the lowest pullet in the pecking order the cockerels try to dominate and mate with her.

I have three cockerels with 28 pullets, mostly all standard size. However, they do not chase the others - there is an occasional episode from one of the two OEGB, but mainly its this girl that is the target from them. She is definitely the only one who takes off running, causing him( mainly 'HIM") to chase. My older OEGB (1 year old) is a really good rooster finding treats, watching the sky, the flock etc. The 18 week old OEGB is the hormonal teenage boy. He will be a great backup flock tender once we get through this stage. The third cockerel very much wants to be invisible. He doesnt even crow, and hangs out with his sisters being very inconspicuous.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Pullet.
The cockerels are ready to breed but she isnt quite there at 18 weeks. In a couple more weeks she will allow them to mate her.

 

[LaFleche]

I have three cockerels with 28 pullets, mostly all standard size. However, they do not chase the others - there is an occasional episode from one of the two OEGB, but mainly its this girl that is the target from them. She is definitely the only one who takes off running, causing him( mainly 'HIM") to chase. My older OEGB (1 year old) is a really good rooster finding treats, watching the sky, the flock etc. The 18 week old OEGB is the hormonal teenage boy. He will be a great backup flock tender once we get through this stage. The third cockerel very much wants to be invisible. He doesnt even crow, and hangs out with his sisters being very inconspicuous.

Well that is a good ratio and from what you describe no need to separate any of them.

I think I would de-worm her just in case and take her out every other day for a while to have some nice scrambled eggs on her own.

Oh, and it's a pullet.