Let's play "pullet or cockerel--EE edition"!

[deidreg]

Don't let him up in your lap. A good roo will respect your space. Hens can be lap chickens. Roos are supposed to protect the girls. Beekissed's article on rooster behavior (on this site) is pretty amazing.

If a rooster tidbits, or wing dances for you, that's not a cute thing. He's challenging you. 'Peck' him back and chase him a little if he decides he's in charge.

Oh, thanks for the advice. I thought he was a she until yesterday, so I'll stop letting him on my lap. He hasn't challenged me yet but I'm ready to "peck" back if necessary.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Oh, thanks for the advice. I thought he was a she until yesterday, so I'll stop letting him on my lap. He hasn't challenged me yet but I'm ready to "peck" back if necessary.

Remember now, you're alpha.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Agreed- even roos of the most mellow breed (not yours) can become aggressive. Keep him in line.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She wouldn’t be an EE then.

EEs lay many different colors. They don't just lay blue, & green.

She's a single combed EE.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@MysteryChicken, tell me about your EE roo. How is he with your hens (and how many hens do you have)? Does he crow a lot? Aggressive with you? While I know every bird is different, I want to get a sense if I could possibly keep Olive(r) with my flock. I will also start looking around for rehoming options, too, if needed. I'm getting more than I bargained for with this chicken adventure!

He's my mom's EE rooster.

He's a gentleman with the ladies, but he recently lost his place as Alpha.

He's not human aggressive, he's a gentle Giant that isn't a huge fan of being picked up though.

He crows regularly, like at specific times of the day though. It'll be like 3-4 crows in a row.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

EEs lay many different colors. They don't just lay blue, & green.
View attachment 2396856She's a single combed EE.

Umm. Actually I’m pretty sure the definition of an EE is a mixed breed that lays blue/green/olive.
Otherwise you could classify literally any mixed breed as an EE, lol.

 

[NatJ]

Umm. Actually I’m pretty sure the definition of an EE is a mixed breed that lays blue/green/olive.
Otherwise you could classify literally any mixed breed as an EE, lol.

I mostly agree.

The problem comes from hatcheries that sell Easter Eggers (under many names). Some of those birds do lay eggs that are not blue or green.

So I might say that an Easter Egger is any non-purebred chicken that lays blue or green eggs, plus a few that were supposed to lay blue or green eggs but didn't. I don't like defining it that way, but it seems to cover all the various meanings I've heard.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I mostly agree.

The problem comes from hatcheries that sell Easter Eggers (under many names). Some of those birds do lay eggs that are not blue or green.

So I might say that an Easter Egger is any non-purebred chicken that lays blue or green eggs, plus a few that were supposed to lay blue or green eggs but didn't. I don't like defining it that way, but it seems to cover all the various meanings I've heard.

True.
I would still say those aren’t EEs.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Umm. Actually I’m pretty sure the definition of an EE is a mixed breed that lays blue/green/olive.
Otherwise you could classify literally any mixed breed as an EE, lol.

She didn't come from a hatchery

I mostly agree.

The problem comes from hatcheries that sell Easter Eggers (under many names). Some of those birds do lay eggs that are not blue or green.

So I might say that an Easter Egger is any non-purebred chicken that lays blue or green eggs, plus a few that were supposed to lay blue or green eggs but didn't. I don't like defining it that way, but it seems to cover all the various meanings I've heard.

 

[MysteryChicken]

She lays pink, & it's one color that's listed.