Pleeeeaaaze be a hen!

[simplyscrambled]

We have 4 that we hatched. The one I'm most concerned with was one we had to break free from the shell, 'unshellac' from the hard encasing of membrane, and one that jumps on my SO's shoulder when he crouches to feed them from his hand. The are 10 1/2 weeks old. #1 chick is Elle. For comparison, #2 is a blue we're pretty sure is a roo. Both are Americanas.

Chick#1

...and when 'she' was born!

Chick #2
Taken a week ago:

What do you think? We kind of figured it from behavior, until I read it doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm even having nightmares, because my SO is so attached to Elle! Last year, he got super attached to one that was the survivor from a dog attack, that killed it's siblings, and then one day....it crowed.

Thanks!!!

 

[FireTigeris]

Quote:
You do know hens -can- crow if there is no rooster ... right?

 

[sonew123]

first one pullet
second one Im pulled towards pullet too BUT I do see some redness and a raised pea comb ??

 

[Illia]

Black - pullet

Blue - likely cockerel, telling by the comb but also by the color. Pullets won't develop so much darkness around the neck and especially the shoulders at this young of age. But, who knows, it may just be a pullet.

 

[Hegatha]

They both look like pretty pullets.

 

[zengrrl]

I have no idea but relieved to know I'm not the only one begging that my roo is a girl!

 

[lillie2202]

Quote:
You do know hens -can- crow if there is no rooster ... right?

X2 We had a hen that acted just like a rooster tell we got a rooster.... I think both are girls, but i am not an expert

Keep me updated I really would like to know if I am right, Please

 

[Chickmate]

Quote:
You do know hens -can- crow if there is no rooster ... right?

Get out! Are you serious?

 

[FireTigeris]

Quote:
You do know hens -can- crow if there is no rooster ... right?

Get out! Are you serious?

Completely, in absents of a rooster the most dominant hen will stop laying and start crowing, her body will release more testosterone and her behavior will become rooster(ish) including mounting hens and strutting, crowing, and calling hens for food- warning about predators.

She however will NOT be fertile (as a male, no male bits), when a real male is introduced she will stop 'playing roo' and go back to laying eggs.

 

[simplyscrambled]

Thank you all you guessers! I'm so glad there's agreement with Elle being a pullet.

I was thinking maybe the grey was a pullet too after reading here and went out to try and see it with new eyes, we'll see! She's actually going to live with my co-worker, so I'll have her keep me updated, and then I'll update here.