Spot the Rooster!

[MommaBeth]

My pullets are 10 weeks old now - except one of them must not be a pullet after all. The past couple of days we've woken to crows. Unfortunately, we don't know who the culprit is. I've been keeping an eye on my larger birds, a Gold Laced Wyandotte named Cordelia, and a Barred Plymouth Rock named Jackie, but I'm so new to this that I could easily be missing something. I've posted about Cordelia before but the jury was out and it's a couple of weeks on since then. I figured it's time to have a good look at the whole flock since SOMEBODY is crowing.

Here are the main suspects - stretching their necks out to snatch grapes off the vine. Also pictured: Quinn, our Australorp.

Tail Feathers:


Profiles:



I feel like there's nothing particularly suspicious about Willow or Grace, our Ameraucanas.


But Buffy, our Buff Orpington, has some definite comb and wattle development.


As does Foggy, our Leghorn - who also has the biggest spur bumps of the flock but that doesn't mean much that I know of. She's also one of the smallest birds, and I've seen her get picked on by almost everyone.


Karen the Speckled Sussex is also quite petite and barely above Foggy in the pecking order.


And Quinn the Australorp is just so sweet that I can't imagine she's a roo.


Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Some of them have pretty big wattles.

I think your speckled sussex is a boy. Can you post a couple more pics of it (side shot straight on)?

Your EEs (they aren't Ameraucanas) both look to be definitely girls.

I also think your gold laced is probably a boy.

 

[Farmgirl47]

Do you have a clear picture of the white Leghorn?

The EEs, the Australorp, the Barred Rock, and the Buff Orpington are definitely pullets...

The Gold Laced Wyandotte looks suspicious. And also the Karen, the SS. My SS didn't have nearly as big a comb as her/him at that age.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

A clearer pic of the Leghorn would be good. Cordelia might be a cockerel, though the lacing is not what you would expect for a male Wyandotte. Also suspicious of the SS.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

^ I thought the same thing. The lacing and feathers look fine, but the combs and wattles are suspicious.

On the SS I think the opposite. The comb is fine. Mine developed a comb young. But the color seems to be developing more like my male. I know different "lines" develop differently, though.

 

[MommaBeth]

I've wondered about whether they're really Ameraucanas - they were definitely sold to me as such. The whole flock was sold as day old sexed pullets but I know we were bound to end up with a roo or two.

I just have one Gold Laced Wyandotte - so those are all pictures of the same bird. The only thing I have 2 of is the EEs but in different colors.

I didn't suspect Karen the Specled Sussex or Foggy the Leghorn because they're so little and clearly not dominate birds in our flock. Their combs are also still very light. Here are some pics of Karen the Sussex. I'll post pics of Foggy in a few minutes after I feed the kids and get a chance to crop some of her pics (she's trickier to photograph - but I expected that from a Leghorn)

See how small the Sussex (middle bird) is?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

No, they are definitely Easter Eggers. Ameraucanas don't come in those colors and Ameraucanas have white skin so they would not show green on their legs like I see on yours. Most hatcheries, feedstores, and backyard sellers are selling Easter Eggers. If you buy an Ameraucana you will know it, money wise. Day old chicks are usually $10-15.

 

[Farmgirl47]

I wish I had pictures of my SS when she was that age to compare with yours. She is now about 4.5 months old.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

So is mine. I'll check the memory card for my camera when I get home.

 

[Farmgirl47]

After looking on the internet I am beginning to think that the Wyandotte is a pullet. The color of her/his comb is suspicious, but the coloring isn't right.