is this EE a pullet or a cockerel?

[mudpaw]

*first time chicken owner- please bear with me*

I know this may be a bit early, but I'd rather know of this little one is a rooster before i get too attached (I'm in the city and he'll have to go if it is indeed a "he"). It's stance and personality have me wondering the last week or so. It stands very upright and stretches it's neck when looking at me. Also a bit aggressive with the other chicks as well as what I'd swear look like it's trying to scare me away (it'll run and flap it's wings and jump/hop a time or two) though some days it's comes over am almost lets me touch it . I also noticed some new tail feathers that look long and slender when compared to the rest. These photos aren't the best, I can try and get better ones later today.

 

[sarjaysar]

The standing up inquisitiveness is not accurate at all. I've had pullets who as chicks were very boistrous, very nosey / inquisitive. How old is chickie??

The different variation in the tail feathers can still easily be a pullet

 

[mudpaw]

it was the oldest of the chicks I got...and is by far the largest. My best guess is it's about 4-5 weeks old (the rest were tiny-a few days old-and are 3 weeks now, this one already had wing feathers and was almost double the size of the rest when I got it). Also was told mother may have been a RIR. It's only got a little fluff on it's head and a strip on it's back and underside now, the rest is rusty red feathers.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I'm going to take a guess and a say it's a pullet. My EE roos (I've had 4 of them now) all had much larger combs by 4-5 weeks and were very dark pink. It was quite obvious they were boys. And I agree, the posture/aggressiveness is not a good test. Some of my pullets were more aggressive from day one than my roos!

Good luck!

 

[mudpaw]

Quote:
I SO hope you are right

...I'm so smitten with this little one

 

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

Yes, if your age guess is accurate, then I would lean toward pullet as well.

 

[mudpaw]

Quote:
YAY ...I hope everyone so far is right!!! I know it has to be at least 4 weeks old...I've had them for a little over 3 weeks and it had a decent head start on the others.

 

[sarjaysar]

I agree on that score. Having just hatched out two same age which are pullet and roo currently 8 weeks old, it was the roo's comb that developed significantly once he had reached 5-6 weeks and was really starting to redden. Size isn't a good indication either as I have found that pullets grow bigger initially then about 8 weeks plus the roos start to take over. Bit like humans I guess (obviously not in terms of weeks of age!)

 

[mudpaw]

well, it looks like I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope she truly is a pullet

and maybe she'll lay pretty eggs for me in the future