Easter Egger Sexing "tips and tricks" *Pictures Included*

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Are both of these boys? I think the brownish one is a cockerel. What sex do you think the grayish one is?




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Oh sorry, age is an important detail! They are 8 weeks. It's hard to get a good pic, they don't hold very still and are quite skiddish. Would cockerel feathers start showing up at 8 weeks? That's my concern wth the grey one. They are my first EE and I understand they are harder to sex then other types of chickens so I appreciate all the help I can get! Thanks!
 
DS17 said:
Oh sorry, age is an important detail! They are 8 weeks. It's hard to get a good pic, they don't hold very still and are quite skiddish. Would cockerel feathers start showing up at 8 weeks? That's my concern wth the grey one. They are my first EE and I understand they are harder to sex then other types of chickens so I appreciate all the help I can get! Thanks!
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Male specific hackle and saddle feathers usually don't begin developing until about 10 weeks old, and it takes a few more weeks after for them to be visible. Your black and white ones are pullets, with their uniform, even patterning. They have the same patterning as your other pullets, but with the silver base color instead of the red/gold base color. Your only cockerel (red one) has very patchy coloring, compared to the girls with the same golden base color.
 
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They won't have cockerel feathers at 8 weeks. Overall feather coloring and the size/shape/color of the comb are the best clues. I can't see the combs clearly enough, so just going by coloring, the grayish one looks like a pullet. The red is harder. Not a typical pullet coloring, but I have seen the occasional one on this thread turn out to be female. Most likely it is a cockerel, but can't be sure on either without seeing a close up of the combs. If you see a comb start turning red in the next 2 weeks, that would be your cockerel.

Typical pullet pea comb at 8 weeks. Kind of a peachy pinkish or paler.


Males are a raspberry pink or red, showing much earlier than a pullet ever is. Notice the red goes all the way down by the nostrils.
 
Thank so much for the detailed explanation, it is very helpful!!

I will try to get pics of the combs and share them, I do know the red one that we all think is a cockerel does have a pinker comb than all the others.

My friend I got them from (there were 10 total) told me I could bring back any males and exchange for a female. I do know it is unwise to add one chicken to an existing flock, but would making an exchange with "litter mates" of 8 weeks old be a bad idea? They have been separated as their litter mates for a couple weeks. Don't know if the ones that got exchanged would get picked on by the others, even though they are the same age and size. That may have nothing to do with it since there is a pecking order and all amoung chickens......
 
There are threads about introducing chickens to a flock that have lots of good info. Since they are the same age, it probably won't be too hard. Put the new one on the roost after dark so they all wake up together. Have a new treat out so they are distracted. Hang a head of cabbage, toss in some kale leaves, anything new will distract from the new pullet.
 

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