Ameraucana Hen or Roo

[NBM]

I have what I believe to be an Ameraucana Pullet. We got 4 pullets and all different breeds from Tractor Supply. They are around 8 weeks old. The Ameraucana from the start has had much larger legs than the other 3 and now the tail feathers are much prettier than the other 3 and are pointed and not rounded. However there is no red comb as of yet. Sorry these pictures aren't the best. Any thoughts on Hen or Roo? Or is it still too early to tell? Thanks!

 

[Athena2344]

That is an EE, i think it might be pullet, but the sickle feathers look mighty pointy

 

[drumstick diva]

Would you please try to get new photos? The current ones are not very sharp/clear

 

[willchickeneat]

This is photos of Easter egger roos. Early on, their tail feather is different and as they grow they'll grow different. The sickle/saddle feather becomes very distinctive.

I've also noticed that if you put a young roo/pullets in with an older lay hen group, they females will pick on the roos. Mean way of sorting out, but the older females know which ones are male and will chase them and peck them as a way to show dominance because they are too young to protect themselves yet.

 

[willchickeneat]

Young female easter eggers, tails are different. Tips are not as pointy or droopy.

 

[willchickeneat]

BTW, tractor supply does not sell true Ameraucanas. They are easter eggers and this year their chicks come from Hoover Hatchery. They are easter eggers. Only recognized colors for Ameraucanas are usually:
Black, blue, splash (BBS), wheaten, blue wheaten, buff and white. Self blues are in processed of getting recognized as an official color. There are project Ameraucanas that people do for fun, such as chocolate or mottled. They have to breed at least 50% true to be considered an official Ameraucana.

If you want a real Ameraucana, the only online hatcheries that I know of that carries true Ameraucanas are: My pet chicken, Meyers and Cackle but they sell them at a ridiculous price. http://fowlstuff.com/FAbout.html is by John Blem, one of the original breeders of Ameraucanas, but the min. order is 25.

I would join Facebook groups such as Real Ameraucana Marketplace or Real Ameraucana Group and connect with people who would know/experts about Ameraucanas. They are a closed group, so you have to ask to join.

http://ameraucanaalliance.org/faq.html is also a good start to learn about them.

Sometimes people post them on Craigslist, but be wary. Ask questions and get good photos to verify if it's the real deal. http://ameraucanaalliance.org/photos.html has images of the different colors and what they should look like.

 

[Alexandra33]

Pretty pullet.

Also, she's an Easter Egger, not an Ameraucana. Feed stores and most hatcheries mislabel the former as the latter.

~Alex

 

[JedJackson]

Beautiful EE pullet.

 

[NBM]

Yes, I did look more into the EE and defiantly an EE. Now is it a hen or roo? Around 14 weeks now.

 

[Sneebsey]

Yes, she's an EE pullet; the colouring is female-specific. A male generally doesn't get that delicate patterning, it's usually more blocky black areas.