Too-la-ROO-la-ree?

[OzarkEgghead]

I've had chickens for almost a decade now but have always ordered strictly pullets direct from the hatchery & have been lucky enough that the sexers got it right 100% of the time. I ordered Easter Egger pullets for the first time & the hatchery did advise me that their sexing for them is only 80% accurate. They will be 12 weeks old on Monday. I've never had a Roo so I'm not entirely sure what saddle feathers look like at this age but I'm beginning to think Geraldine is really Gerald! He/she/it is EXTREMELY active, gets in everyone's business, seems more brightly & splashily colored then the others & I'm PRETTY certain has saddle feathers. Can you guys tell from these pics if I've got a Geraldine or a Gerald on my hands?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Male. He has wing leakage

 

[Ocho 8 Farm]

His coloring is male specific

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

Cockerel(Gerald) no doubt about it!
Good thing is, he'll taste just like chicken if you don't need a rooster in your flock.

 

[OzarkEgghead]

Male. He has wing leakage

Forgive me for being stupid but what is wing leakage?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Forgive me for being stupid but what is wing leakage?

Those big red patches on his wings and shoulders. Females almost never have them. I only have ever seen one have it, and she's mine with funky genetics already.

 

[OzarkEgghead]

His coloring is male specific

I think I know this answer but......what, exactly, is "male specific" about his coloring?

 

[OzarkEgghead]

One last general question since I've never had a Roo....I have 17 of these EE youngsters. If I assume the hatchery DID mis-sex 20% of them, that's 3.4 roosters - so 3 or 4 of them. I assume they will reach an age when they start fighting one another & I'll have to cull all but one of them. I'd like to give it some time to figure out which one will be the easiest to deal with & which ones are going to be little jerks. Knowing they're 12 wks, about how much time do I have to figure out which one to keep & which to cull before I start having cock fights on my hands?

 

[nuthatched]

I think I know this answer but......what, exactly, is "male specific" about his coloring?

Red wings.

 

[nuthatched]

One last general question since I've never had a Roo....I have 17 of these EE youngsters. If I assume the hatchery DID mis-sex 20% of them, that's 3.4 roosters - so 3 or 4 of them. I assume they will reach an age when they start fighting one another & I'll have to cull all but one of them. I'd like to give it some time to figure out which one will be the easiest to deal with & which ones are going to be little jerks. Knowing they're 12 wks, about how much time do I have to figure out which one to keep & which to cull before I start having cock fights on my hands?

I have 13 hens and two males, I've never had a fight. Some will, some won't. Watch out how they treat the hens and how they act around you.