Easter Egger Question

[ChickenChick46]

I think my bantam baby is an Easter Egger. I didn't know that when I picked this baby. I just was immediately drawn in by the chick's color.

I don't know anything about Easter Eggers, however. I do know that because they're mixed, they can basically look like anything. But does their chick color generally reflect what they'll look like as adults?

I'm curious if this one will be like a splash or light color as an adult, or if it is even possible to know that right now. I just got these chicks on Sunday from Rural King. They were hatched probably on Tuesday 8/26 or Wednesday 8/27. Thank you!

 

[JedJackson]

I think it will be pale as an adult, too. Whether those same markings will be present is another question. I'm not sure on that.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I think it will be pale as an adult, too. Whether those same markings will be present is another question. I'm not sure on that.

Thank you! I'm new to chickens anyway, then with EEs, since they can look like anything, they really overwhelm me, lol.

 

[JedJackson]

Thank you! I'm new to chickens anyway, then with EEs, since they can look like anything, they really overwhelm me, lol.

I'm not sure what the color genetics are of this chick. It could be mottled splash, mottled lavender, or barring may be involved. But it should stay pale. It may get silver or gold leakage latter on in the hackles and tail. Really time will tell. It should be pretty, though.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I'm not sure what the color genetics are of this chick. It could be mottled splash, mottled lavender, or barring may be involved. But it should stay pale. It may get silver or gold leakage latter on in the hackles and tail. Really time will tell. It should be pretty, though.

Thank you so much for all this information. I read that as they grow, 3 rows of "peas" on the comb indicate a male. Is there truth to that? I'm going to keep the bird either way, so more just curious.

 

[JedJackson]

Thank you so much for all this information. I read that as they grow, 3 rows of "peas" on the comb indicate a male. Is there truth to that? I'm going to keep the bird either way, so more just curious.

No, that is not a reliable indicator of gender. Until 12 or 13 weeks, you're looking at comb size and color only.

Unless the bird happens to have a dimorphic color pattern, which this does not. Examples of dimorphic color patterns occur in Welsumers and Salmon Faverolles. It means that the males and females are colored differently, and as so, can be told apart earlier than non-dimorphic color patterns.

After 12 weeks, and it can happen sooner or later than that, cockerels start getting male specific feathering. Long, slim, brighter feathers in the saddle, and brighter feathers on the shoulders, and often longer hackle feathers. That is the way to tell gender in older chicks if it isn't obvious when they are younger. But that is a long way off for this one.

 

[ChickenChick46]

No, that is not a reliable indicator of gender. Until 12 or 13 weeks, you're looking at comb size and color only.

Unless the bird happens to have a dimorphic color pattern, which this does not. Examples of dimorphic color patterns occur in Welsumers and Salmon Faverolles. It means that the males and females are colored differently, and as so, can be told apart earlier than non-dimorphic color patterns.

After 12 weeks, and it can happen sooner or later than that, cockerels start getting male specific feathering. Long, slim, brighter feathers in the saddle, and brighter feathers on the shoulders, and often longer hackle feathers. That is the way to tell gender in older chicks if it isn't obvious when they are younger. But that is a long way off for this one.

Good to know, thank you so much! I am loving being a chicken mom and I've learned so much from everyone here. It's very much appreciated!