what sex is this 3 week old Ameraucana chick?

[Nagi]

Hi- I got this chick from a local feed store and am trying to figure out whether it is a female or male. I don't know how old it is but I bought it 19 days ago. He/she is super smart, flighty(almost impossible to catch) and likes to challenge all the other chicks. I'm afraid it's a boy. We can't keep a roo so I will have to figure out something soon. And today his/her comb is starting to turn red. The comb is bigger than the combs on the Araucana chicks I got from McMurray. Thank you so much!!
!

 

[Nagi]

this is a pic of the Dorking and the Rhode Island Red. When I have time I will take better pics. I am assuming the Dorking is a male. Not sure about the RIR.

 

[ChickenLove6]

I think all are roosters, but not sure about the RIR, keep and eye out on her/him and then post in a couple of weeks.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I wouldn't decide yet. 3 weeks is really early to judge with certainty unless it is a color sexed breed, none of which you have.

Right now, there is nothing screaming roo to me from your photos. (I would have to see the updated photo with the "red" in the comb of the Ameraucana.)

Post more photos at 6 weeks. Usually you've got some pretty good indicators by then, but not always. And don't panic about having to place a roo...you still have some time to decide as it is a shame to find out you gave away a good hen. (I've done that). Roos start crowing at various ages. Some very early (you know for certain then) and some not until several months of age. (I placed a 12 week obviously Barred Rock roo that had not uttered a peep yet.)

BTW...FYI..."Ameraucana" is a very loose term in the chicken breed world especially from a feed store (and even a hatchery), so it is more likely you have a mutt Easter Egger than true Ameraucana. Having said that...mutts develop at their own rates with unique patternings and can be quite deceptive (with all those spare genes running around).

As some signs for roo or pullet? Some birds are very, very obvious from early on that they will be a roo or pullet. But you really have to compare apples to apples...ie same breed of chicks to each other from the same farm or hatchery....and a caveat about hatchery birds...there can be a lot of variation in the birds of the same breed due to hatchery quality control...or lack of...in the breeding program.

Generally the signs of a roo at an early age are:
Males have slow to develop feathers...more ragged fluff than feather especially on back and scruffy looking tail. It just takes longer for the roos to develop those lovely saddle and plume tails in most breeds. The pullets get their "big girl" feathers in much sooner especially in the wings, tail and back. In patterned birds, the females will have even patterning and the males will have more of a patch-work quilt with odd colors coming in with blotches.

Males will have more of a "game bird" lanky appearance than a "squatty" or "tear drop" shape...yup...pullets like us ladies tend to have a southern spread...it helps to cover all those eggs, and the pelvic girdle will have to be wide enough to accommodate egg laying. But don't panic...just as any animal or person, chicks go through gangly periods of growth as different body parts catch up.

Males tend to develop obviously RED comb and wattles from an early age and continue growth well ahead of other chicks of SAME breed (with the caveat that some early developing pullets will fool you, as well as some late developing males...think junior high school gym time and the difference in bodies of young developing pre-teens)

Males tend to have very large legs...but that isn't always definitive.. one of my pullets looks like an Amazon in her legs...and now lays white eggs.

Males tend to have a "cocky" attitude and posture...a lot more chest butting, strutting, general nuisance in the group (but many pullets can be very "snotty" to their brood mates too!)

Males will eventually develop pointy hackle feathers (although in some breeds the pullet can have somewhat pointy hackles too) and the tail feathers will form a curled down plume (although some females have an odd feather in the tail that points down)...more importantly a "saddle" develops across the back...drooping feathers cascading down on each side...expect to hear crowing soon when an obvious saddle develops.

But some you just have to wait until they either crow or lay an egg.

Post more pics in a couple of weeks.

Lady of McCamley (who right now THINKS she has 2 pullets, 2 roos, and 1 undecided in her 6 week hatchlings of mixed breeds)

 

[Nagi]

thank you so much ChickenLove6 and Lady of McCamley! I appreciate so very much you taking the time to post such detailed information! Thank you.
I will take your advice and wait. I have a friend who also wants chickens and may take a rooster if any of these chicks do indeed turn out to be male. I will post more pics as they age. I am so amazed at how quickly they develop and how their personalities are so distinct. I get so much enjoyment from just watching them run around.

 

[donrae]

I agree on the wait and see. I'm not seeing anything screaming roo at this point, but usually you can tell by 6 weeks.

 

[Nagi]

ok--thank you so much donrae!

 

[ournwsimplelife]

What did they end up being?

 

[Nagi]

thanks! they both ended up being roosters :-(