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

[grettasurfergirl]

Sorry. I meant a close-up of the comb

Ok will see what I can get later today! Thanks

 

[cstephens1987]

Ok will see what I can get later today! Thanks

No problem. The color pattern thus far for feathers looks fairly female but the comb is a little suspect given the age.

 

[debid]

No problem. The color pattern thus far for feathers looks fairly female but the comb is a little suspect given the age.

It's just a cushion comb. They can be super wide but there's no height to it so it's not developing yet.

 

[debid]

Thanks for your advice! I noticed a few chunks of white feathers coming in so I’m guessing that’s not a good sign? Thank you!!

Male feathers would be red on both wing and saddle but it's much too soon for saddle development. I don't know what is up with that little white bit other than maybe baby camo that will molt out? Baby feathers can be a bit wonky. I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[debid]

This is my favorite reference chicken for funky EE combs. This is a pullet with a cushion comb, about 2.5 weeks old. Cushions are really hard to judge since we're mostly used to seeing tiny little pea combs but this comb is nowhere near its full glory yet.

That chick became this adolescent:

And this adult:

She lays blue eggs.

 

[cstephens1987]

This is my favorite reference chicken for funky EE combs. This is a pullet with a cushion comb, about 2.5 weeks old. Cushions are really hard to judge since we're mostly used to seeing tiny little pea combs but this comb is nowhere near its full glory yet.
View attachment 1792194
That chick became this adolescent:
View attachment 1792216
And this adult:
View attachment 1792218
She lays blue eggs.

How common are cushions on an EE?

 

[debid]

How common are cushions on an EE?

Depends on your source. The hatchery (small and local) where I get mine produces LOTS of them. I can only assume that it has something to do with the line they started with.

 

[cstephens1987]

Depends on your source. The hatchery (small and local) where I get mine produces LOTS of them. I can only assume that it has something to do with the line they started with.

Yeah after looking up the genetics a bit my guess would be EE lines that have been bred using wyandottes and ameraucanas at some point would be the ones likely to throw a cushion.

 

[debid]

Here's another.

• debid
• Apr 23, 2011

• debid
• Jun 15, 2011

 

[debid]

Yeah after looking up the genetics a bit my guess would be EE lines that have been bred using wyandottes and ameraucanas at some point would be the ones likely to throw a cushion.

I don't think so. EEs were used to create Ameraucanas, not the other way around. The original EEs didn't have standards but they did tend to have certain traits that were preferred. Pea combs were desirable and a cushion is genetically just pea and rose rather than pea and single. If you keep the cushion adults in your breeding program, you get cushion offspring.