Me thinks there are cockrels among my pullets - what do you think?

[Kelly G]

Well...last week I post that one of my RIR was suspiciously behaving like a roo...the jury's still out on that one.

Now, it seems that two of my three Ameracaunas might be cockrels/roos. I took a bunch of pictures this morning...here are a few.

Possible hen imposter #1

...and do I see irridescent feathers???!!!

Possible imposter #2:

I haven't heard a single crow - or any attempt at crowing from either of these two birds. These are 2wks younger than my other birds - I purchased them together, and they will be 18 weeks old on Monday. Wouldn't I have heard a crow by now? Someone is there 24 hours a day...so certainly one of us would have heard it.

What do you guys see? Rooster dinner?

 

[Kelly G]

Oh! And for comparison...here is my definite Ameracauna pullet...she is 20 weeks old (two weeks older than those posted above.

 

[GardeNerd]

I think they look like pullets, but I am not an expert. I don't see any pointy saddle feathers and I think the combs would be bigger and redder by now if they were males.

 

[chickenbottom]

number 1 def a roo look at those feathers its screaming roo i think lol. and the other im not sure of

 

[txchickie]

Hmm...I would guess all pullets.

How's that for positive thinking

 

[Kelly G]

It would be really nice if you guys were right! I really do not want a rooster at all...I run a riding academy for children, and the last thing I need is a mean roo!

When do cockrels typically start crowing? I've read here about how young many have started...but what's the late side of norm?

 

[Lanissa86]

If you had a Roo in that Easter Egger bunch you would be waking up Early already. These are all pullets and VERY lovely Ladies you have!

Easter Eggers are so mixed you can't go by Hackle/Saddle feathers because even the girls will sometimes have pointed feathers!

The combs are a small size, not wide and not too red so that is good indication that you have all girls!

Enjoy!

 

[jenni2142]

Yes, they look like all girls. I notice that many EE's have the pointy hackle feathers but I don't see any pointy saddle feathers in your group. Enjoy your girls.

 

[joedie]

Me thinks they are all ladies.

 

[PotterWatch]

I think they are girls as well. Like others have said, EEs can be hard to determine based on the look of feathers alone. If they were roos, by that age I think they would have definite sickle/hackle feathers, and they would have much more pronounced combs.