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

[bruceha2000]

the guy at the feed store was vent sexing everything but said even that can be fallible.

Interesting, vent sexing takes training. Nice that he can do it! And yes it isn't perfect, that is why the big hatcheries only guarantee 90% accuracy.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hi there! We got these Easter Eggers about 2 weeks ago and we are guessing they were about a week old because they had very feathered wings. Today I took them to a sheltered flower bed for some outdoor time. Marilyn is the blonde and seems to have some orangey gold feathers coming on her neck and chest (first two photos). Then we have Henrietta who has kind of a macho stance at times, very feathered tail, and not much comb so far. (Next 2 photos). Last is Penny, who was having a dust bath and couldn’t be bothered to pose. This her feathers and comb. Any guesses if we ended up with Roos?

Penny has a very narrow, female looking comb. I predict she is a pullet. All are too young to sex by feathering, but you can often tell earlier by the comb... not 100% of course. It would be interesting to see the combs on the other 2 and see if we can make accurate guesses.

 

[AnnaInFlorida]

Penny has a very narrow, female looking comb. I predict she is a pullet. All are too young to sex by feathering, but you can often tell earlier by the comb... not 100% of course. It would be interesting to see the combs on the other 2 and see if we can make accurate guesses.

Sure, thank you! I’m interested in seeing how the early predictions go, it’s kind of fun. 1st is Marilyn, she’s the golden one and the other is Henrietta.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Sure, thank you! I’m interested in seeing how the early predictions go, it’s kind of fun. 1st is Marilyn, she’s the golden one and the other is Henrietta.

I see a wide lumpy comb on Marilyn. Those usually end up being boys.
Henrietta's comb is also wide, but I'm less sure about it. If they were bred to have classic pea combs, I'd expect both to be male. If Henrietta has Wyandotte (rose comb) in her breeding, then all bets are off. Hope you post updates so we can follow their development... for combs and feathers.

 

[AnnaInFlorida]

I see a wide lumpy comb on Marilyn. Those usually end up being boys.
Henrietta's comb is also wide, but I'm less sure about it. If they were bred to have classic pea combs, I'd expect both to be male. If Henrietta has Wyandotte (rose comb) in her breeding, then all bets are off. Hope you post updates so we can follow their development... for combs and feathers.

They were called “Americanas” so it’s a mystery. I will post pictures as they change. It will be interesting to see how it works out. I’m not able to have roosters so it will be a bummer, but will find good homes if I need to.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

They were called “Americanas” so it’s a mystery. I will post pictures as they change. It will be interesting to see how it works out. I’m not able to have roosters so it will be a bummer, but will find good homes if I need to.

If they are Americanas from a larger hatchery, they are basically a large bodied, non standard Ameraucana... with pea combs and the gene for blue shells, and lovely beards and big cheeks.

 

[AnnaInFlorida]

If they are Americanas from a larger hatchery, they are basically a large bodied, non standard Ameraucana... with pea combs and the gene for blue shells, and lovely beards and big cheeks.

I believe they originally came from Hoover’s. We got them at Rural King. They seem to have very chubby cheeks.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I believe they originally came from Hoover’s. We got them at Rural King. They seem to have very chubby cheeks.

Do you know if they were straight run vs sexed pullets?

 

[AnnaInFlorida]

Do you know if they were straight run vs sexed pullets?

They were supposed to be sexed but I think there had been some mixing because they had an employee who double-checked vent and wings as we picked. I kept picking males so I told him to just try for females, the coloring was not as important. In the past I never had anyone check as carefully as this guy.

 

[AnnaInFlorida]

I see a wide lumpy comb on Marilyn. Those usually end up being boys.
Henrietta's comb is also wide, but I'm less sure about it. If they were bred to have classic pea combs, I'd expect both to be male. If Henrietta has Wyandotte (rose comb) in her breeding, then all bets are off. Hope you post updates so we can follow their development... for combs and feathers.

I wanted to post an update on Marilyn and Henrietta. Penny is still looking very pulletesque. Marilyn has quite small, petite feet, hen posturing and I would feel pretty good if her wider comb wasn’t beginning to turn a bit pinker. Might see some red in her feathers too. Henrietta’s comb is very yellow not as pronounced as Marilyn’s but has a very upright posture and slightly larger feet. Marilyn is more gold and Henrietta darker with black/dark brown feathers appearing on the head.