2 EE's. Gender / Age / Color Pls

[AlpineSpringsRanch]

I picked these two easter eggers out of a pen of 40 or so from a local hatchery. I picked two I thought looked least like Rooster's in the pen. But, I have no rooster EE experience.

Also, the color on these two is weird, kind of muted. One is like a light gray the other has a chocolate kind of brown head. What colors would that be considered?

I believe chick 2 is older just based on size and feathering but I'm not sure.

Both chicks from the top:



Chick 1







Chick 2

 

[stephanie1992]

hmmm i think there both roos but i could b wrong

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

Well they both look 4 weeks or under, and already they are getting red in their combs....they look kinda rooish to me, sorry!! When I'm trying to pick EE pullet chicks, I try to go for chicks that are all brown, or dark chipmunk pattern. Generally the darker chicks tend to be pullets more often than not, unless you're dealing with one that's black and white. 9 times out of 10, my experience is that a chick that stays black and white for the first month is gonna be a cockerel. Then, you look for red showing up in the wing feathers. That's a good cockerel indicator. Also, I have learned that you can pick out 5 brown chicks that look almost exactly alike when just hatched, and they can each grow into highly unique chickens of all colors, so don't be discouraged by picking ones that look the same at first if you're looking for variety.

 

[AlpineSpringsRanch]

So is black and white always male in an EE?

I would have bet money this chick (i think 6 weeks in the photo) is a female. I have three what I call "silver easter eggers" in my grow out pen and I was sure (until now) all 3 are hens. This pic was taken around 3 weeks ago and there haven't been any changes in the comb color or size. All three pics same bird but all three birds look the same. (tongue twister ;P )

 

[cafarmgirl]

Well that last pic sure looks like a pullet to me. I don't have a pic to post but I have a similarly patterned 3 year old ee and it's definitley a hen. Also that last pic, if that was a roo I'd expect to see a lot more comb then that at that age.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

I agree with cafarmgirl, black and white doesn't always mean roo, in fact yours does look like a pullet. I just think its a good hint for a roo. You have to factor in comb color too, and at 6 weeks and no red, that's hinting at a pullet.

 

[AmyLM]

I would say pullet. You cant go by the 'it has pink/red = roo' that doesn't work. I'm sorry.. but it doesn't. Most of the ones that people thought were roos of mine... were pullets.

The best thing I can say.. .wait and see. There are not hard set rules with EEs because they are a mixed breed. You cant say 'lights are male' because its not true Ive seen light EE hens.

People said my RIR was a roo... but shes not. shes a complete brat of a pullet. LOL mouthy... and moody on a good day but defiantly NOT a roo.

 

[Singlemaple]

you can try something that worked for me sexing 4 wk old ee's this year pick them up and put there head between 2 fingers and let them hang ( or try to get them to hang there ) if they fight for a few seconds and they just start yelling at you its a good chance you have a girl and it is fighting you the entire time you hold it and screaming it is a good chance its a roo..

any older then 5 wks i wouldn't do it cause they get pretty heavy but if they feeling kinda light you can try it.

Ive also had luck with if you look at there shoulders and pick up a move around some feathers if you see any red feathers its a good chance its a boy..

but yours look just like the ones i hatched this year and all mine where girls that where that color.

 

[AlpineSpringsRanch]

Thanks for all the feedback I appreciate it. With the first two chicks I am just hoping I guessed right..Otherwise I paid $15 for two roosters . I went to a local hatchery with the intention of buying 5 or 6 pullets / chicks but once I got there...the facility was pretty well..unacceptable. I felt bad b/c it is by appointment only and I DID like the colors of the birds (They were ALL these two colors). So I bought two.

 

[hdowden]

every pic on here looks like pullets