Sapphire Olive Egger ... anyone worry this is a boy?

[MIChickandGuinea]

Yes, if the hybrid includes a CCL the crest is normal... and not an indicator of a cockerel, all 3 of my pullets have them, was what I’m was trying to communicate... I apologize if I was unclear.

OK - I get it. I am just learning about chickens. This is only my third spring with chicks, and last year I had straight run bantams and knew about half would be roosters, so I didn’t pay any attention to “warning signs” for roosters. But this time I have full-size birds and I really don’t want any full-size roosters. We had one two years ago that was absolutely vicious!! The bantams are shy, and too little to be much of a menace. But man, that large rooster we had was a danger to my younger kids and nieces/nephews. He went to live with a crusty old farmer who swore there wasn’t a rooster too mean for him, but in under a month, that rooster had been executed for his crimes. It was an Easter Egger rooster, who I have since learned are notoriously mean. But I feel skittish about roosters in general now!!

 

[Kris5902]

OK - I get it. I am just learning about chickens. This is only my third spring with chicks, and last year I had straight run bantams and knew about half would be roosters, so I didn’t pay any attention to “warning signs” for roosters. But this time I have full-size birds and I really don’t want any full-size roosters. We had one two years ago that was absolutely vicious!! The bantams are shy, and too little to be much of a menace. But man, that large rooster we had was a danger to my younger kids and nieces/nephews. He went to live with a crusty old farmer who swore there wasn’t a rooster too mean for him, but in under a month, that rooster had been executed for his crimes. It was an Easter Egger rooster, who I have since learned are notoriously mean. But I feel skittish about roosters in general now!!

Very understandable! I just processed 4 of my 7 Sapphire cockerels yesterday morning (on my way to becoming a crusty old farmer myself )... it is one thing “knowing” that cockerels and Roos are going to be a challenge and another thing actually dealing with them! That said I plan on keeping 6 of mine, and some of my big boys are quite good, despite their raging hormones. If “he?” is at all like my boys were, you should have a good 4-6 weeks from when gender is definitely clear to him becoming either a testosterone poisoned monster or a decent Roo. 2/7 of my sapphires are non-vicious

Update in a couple weeks with more pics? And the little spiky hairdo is adorable!

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Very understandable! I just processed 4 of my 7 Sapphire cockerels yesterday morning (on my way to becoming a crusty old farmer myself )... it is one thing “knowing” that cockerels and Roos are going to be a challenge and another thing actually dealing with them! That said I plan on keeping 6 of mine, and some of my big boys are quite good, despite their raging hormones. If “he?” is at all like my boys were, you should have a good 4-6 weeks from when gender is definitely clear to him becoming either a testosterone poisoned monster or a decent Roo. 2/7 of my sapphires are non-vicious

Update in a couple weeks with more pics? And the little spiky hairdo is adorable!

Our mean rooster was actually completely fine through his whole first summer and fall. He suddenly started attacking my then-10-year-old son right around Thanksgiving. A couple weeks after that, he started challenging anyone who came into the yard. We took him to a different farm a couple weeks before Christmas. Not sure why he was fine all summer and then lost his mind.

 

[MINchick]

I'm going to say pullet but it could really go either way. I had a (supposed) Sapphire Olive Egger that I recently returned to the feed store because he was obviously a cockerel and I can't have roos. Picture is him at about 3-4 weeks. His comb was more pink and larger when I returned him. I have another Sapphire OE who is younger, about three weeks now and her comb is smaller but definitely there.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Leaning towards cockerel but it’s too young to be 100% certain.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

View attachment 1705764 View attachment 1705765

For reference, though, here are two other same-age chicks who are also supposed to be pullets: one brown leghorn and one Welsummer. They both have significant combs as well.

I would say these are most likely cockerels, also, at least the one on the left, but it's not definite by any means, unless they turn pink/red.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

I would say these are most likely cockerels, also, at least the one on the left, but it's not definite by any means, unless they turn pink/red.

Well, we had two leghorn pullets two years ago and felt quite sure they must have been cockerels because they had huuuuuuuge combs when none of the other girls had any. That one you’re referring to on the left is a brown leghorn so I am hoping SHE is just following the pattern we saw with our two white leghorns a couple years ago. Fingers crossed.

 

[Kris5902]

Patience and time will tell... keep us updated on the gender reveal when it clears up!

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Well, we had two leghorn pullets two years ago and felt quite sure they must have been cockerels because they had huuuuuuuge combs when none of the other girls had any. That one you’re referring to on the left is a brown leghorn so I am hoping SHE is just following the pattern we saw with our two white leghorns a couple years ago. Fingers crossed.

Yes, it's quite possible they are pullets. I had a chick that i thought for sure was a cockerel, because it had a larger, more pinkish comb, but it ended up being a pullet!

 

[drumstick diva]

Too young - please post new photos at 8 weeks of age,