rooster indeed?

[hdowden]

if hes from the feed store and not a breeder of the breed then he is 100% EE
as for sex, yes he is indeed 100% cockerel. he has very nice saddle and hackle feathers and is very pretty. he also has the red wing color that i have only ever seen on roosters.

 

[FarmCoe]

That, with no doubt, is definitely a rooster.

 

[debid]

Fingers crossed that he minds his manners for you but yeah, that's a boy. The long, pointy feathers on his back (just before the tail) are a feature that only males have. His coloration is male and he's getting his sickle feathers (the long, arching tail feathers).

 

[B&G Eisenbeis]

Yay! You have a hansom Easter egger rooster. These are my favorite so far. Have had around 5 all nice to humans, one that I fooled with as a youngster was particularly delightful! He will always hold a place in my heart! you should be warned that when/if he gets a lady of his own species he will prefer spending time with her though.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Yes! And he's a beauty but I don't like that he's already jumping up at you and biting you.

The roo's are usually the friendliest in the group until they're teenagers. If it makes you feel any better (cause misery loves company), I got 3 roos out of 9 from my last feed store chicks. They were "brown egg laying chickens". I clarified that they were not straight run and she got the invoice and read it to me....I think with the popularity of chicken keeping the hatcheries percentages of pullets is going way down!

 

[sourland]

There is no doubt that he is an EE rooster. Nip ANY aggression on his part in the bud or it may escalate to full blown attacks and flogging.

 

[debid]

Quote:
It also may escalate no matter what you do and I'd be concerned that he's nipped at you. My mom tried all of the tricks when her cockerel started chest bumping her leg. He progressed to nipping and then full-blown attacks rapidly and out of the blue at 16 months of age. He just saw her doing the same chick-chick call with the same can of scratch that has been given nearly every day of his rooster life and lost his wee mind. So, I'd suggest taking aggressive behavior very seriously and try not to get too attached.

 

[cameroneil]

hello wonderful chicken folk,

I appreciate all the info, advice and concern! The elbow peck the other day was very gentle and happened while I was kneeling down petting him and the ladies. I went out today to tell him he's a him, and held him and cuddled him and scratched his chin feathers and he seemed to be really happy with me and the world. We had a really good moment, and I hope he stays so sweet!

he is also pretty quiet, but he is just right at 6 months old. Does anyone have any rooster-raising tips? And there has been the implication of discipline if he steps over the aggressive line...how does one discipline a chicken? what shall I be expecting/looking for as he matures?

thanks so much for all the fantastic help!

--cameroneil

 

[jeetthemeet]

that is a very beautiful roo.

 

[B&G Eisenbeis]

Never run, or backdown if he starts aggressive behavior. When my roosters get to a certain age they don't accept "petting" as much (normal) and have sometimes shown signs of agression ONE or TWO times, when I enter the pen. I shew them off with my foot and continue what I am doing. Usually just showing your dominance in the pecking order is enough. Once they know that, usually all is well. However, if a cock attacks me or has me scared to turn my back all the time, he is dinner. I have had at least 30, some alone, some in with other roos.... Only 1 has given me problems. So I feel that roos often get an undeserved bad reputation.

Just keep doing what you are doing! Good luck.