Rooster?

[charvan22]

I'm raising chickens for the first time and have this guy that I want to make sure is a rooster before giving him away. We aren't allowed to keep roosters where I live he is super social and friendly so bummed to loose him. He is 8 weeks old, but to me looks like a rooster since he was about 3 weeks old. He is an Easter egger.

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[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC -- yes, at 8 weeks that bird is definitely a cockerel.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I would not advertise him as an Easter Egger as he is not showing any of the characteristics (pea comb, bearding, green legs) that would be associated with him potentially having blue egg genetics that could be employed in breeding for colored laying offspring --

 

[azygous]

Yes, you have a cockerel. If you really want to keep him, why not look into trying a no-crow collar? If he doesn't crow, or he's too quiet that no one hears him, would that work ?

 

[charvan22]

I would not advertise him as an Easter Egger as he is not showing any of the characteristics (pea comb, bearding, green legs) that would be associated with him potentially having blue egg genetics that could be employed in breeding for colored laying offspring --

I bought all of my day old chicks from someone who stated the chicks where all Easter eggers. I really am new to this so can you tell me more why you don't think he is? Just curious?

 

[charvan22]

here is another picture of him

 

[keesmom]

He isn't an Easter Egger. While EEs aren't a breed they do have common characteristics. One is a pea comb, which is closely linked to the blue egg gene. Yours has a single comb. EEs tend to have beards/muffs. Yours does not. EEs generally have green legs. Yours has yellow.

 

[charvan22]

He isn't an Easter Egger. While EEs aren't a breed they do have common characteristics. One is a pea comb, which is closely linked to the blue egg gene. Yours has a single comb. EEs tend to have beards/muffs. Yours does not. EEs generally have green legs. Yours has yellow.

Thanks for the info. The lady I bought from said that they all hatched from blue, green or pinkish eggs. I should post pics of the other chickens and see what you guys think. Is he just a random mixed breed?

 

[charvan22]

what do you think of this one? Also supposed to be Easter egger. Unsure if hen or roo

 

[Folly's place]

He is handsome! EE's are all mixes, but do tend to have green legs and pea combs. Single combs are recessive, so they can turn up in these mixes, as can smooth faces rather than muffs. I don't know the genetics of leg color. I did read somewhere that green egg color, while dominant, is less likely to be passed on along with recessive single combs. If you like him, and he's a good boy, there's no reason he can't work out for someone who's also happy with a non-purebred. He came from EE stock, and will produce 'who knows?' Mary