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

[igorsMistress]

Choose white or the lightest colored eggs to hatch if you want blue laying pullets. The darker eggs will produce green layers. Hope you get a bunch of "pretty egg" layers. And pretty "egg layers"!

Also, is your EE male from a hatchery? They tend to be more consistent keeping the blue gene in their stock (but it can still vary). Some backyard breeders will "make" their own version of an EE, sometimes outcrossing, and the genetics can actually be more varied than hatchery stock... the downside being your male might only have one gene for blue shells making it 50/50 whether it gets passed on. Hatcheries have been fairly consistent for at least 30 yrs (when I got my first EEs).

I purchased both from a feed store so probably hatchery? I can ask where they order from.

Both ee's have pea combs. Will this improve my chances of blue egg laying off spring? Still pick the lightest colored eggs?

 

[igorsMistress]

Choose white or the lightest colored eggs to hatch if you want blue laying pullets. The darker eggs will produce green layers. Hope you get a bunch of "pretty egg" layers. And pretty "egg layers"!

Also, is your EE male from a hatchery? They tend to be more consistent keeping the blue gene in their stock (but it can still vary). Some backyard breeders will "make" their own version of an EE, sometimes outcrossing, and the genetics can actually be more varied than hatchery stock... the downside being your male might only have one gene for blue shells making it 50/50 whether it gets passed on. Hatcheries have been fairly consistent for at least 30 yrs (when I got my first EEs).

I purchased both from a feed store so probably hatchery? I can ask where they order from.

Both ee's have pea combs. Will this improve my chances of blue egg laying off spring? Should I still pick the lightest colored eggs?

 

[Chicken_Kate]

The pictures are too far away to be certain. At 6 wks, with the size and color of the comb, I'm leaning toward cockerel, but not certain.
Same thing for the black one. Would need closer pics of both.

Here are some zoomed in pictures if anybody has any guesses. This is a six -week old with a bigger comb than hatch mates. What are some other signs of an EE Roo?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I purchased both from a feed store so probably hatchery? I can ask where they order from.

Both ee's have pea combs. Will this improve my chances of blue egg laying off spring? Still pick the lightest colored eggs?

If you have any green or blue eggs to hatch, definitely go with those since you know that hen has at least one gene. If both EE parents have pea combs, chances are very good that your offspring will have genes for blue shells. That doesn't guarantee they will lay blue specifically... may end up with some greenish or greyish or khaki colors, depending on the presence of brown pigment genes. A lot of EEs lay more green than blue, and there are even some that will lay brown.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Here are some zoomed in pictures if anybody has any guesses. This is a six -week old with a bigger comb than hatch mates. What are some other signs of an EE Roo?

Still leaning toward cockerel. Look for the comb to get larger and redder over the next week. Post again if you are unsure.

 

[igorsMistress]

If you have any green or blue eggs to hatch, definitely go with those since you know that hen has at least one gene. If both EE parents have pea combs, chances are very good that your offspring will have genes for blue shells. That doesn't guarantee they will lay blue specifically... may end up with some greenish or greyish or khaki colors, depending on the presence of brown pigment genes. A lot of EEs lay more green than blue, and there are even some that will lay brown.

Thank you again!

I figured no guarantees but at least there's a good chance and that's enough.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Here are some zoomed in pictures if anybody has any guesses. This is a six -week old with a bigger comb than hatch mates. What are some other signs of an EE Roo?

With a comb that red, I think he is definitely a cockerel. He is a very pretty one!

 

[Chicken_Kate]

With a comb that red, I think he is definitely a cockerel. He is a very pretty one!

Thanks for the help. You confirmed my suspicions. Unfortunately I've gotten 3 confirmed roosters so far out of my 16 chicks. I was prepared for maybe two. Anybody else out there successful with a higher roo to hen ratio?

 

[debid]

Thanks for the help. You confirmed my suspicions. Unfortunately I've gotten 3 confirmed roosters so far out of my 16 chicks. I was prepared for maybe two. Anybody else out there successful with a higher roo to hen ratio?

Were these hatchey sexed pullets? If so, someone had a bad day. But if they were sexed by an amateur, I'd be impressed.

 

[NickiJ]

Quote:

Here's my EE roo and an example of what Illia was saying

Why doesn't he have a pea comb?