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

[debid]

Does the Brick Red Coloration always mean rooster? Can hens have that color if its spread throughout?

Hens can be red, sure. It isn't a color that shows up often in female EEs, though. I'm sure there is some genetic reason which probably has to do with the standardized Ameraucana colors chosen and breeding toward that goal. But, no, it isn't that certain colors are male/female, it's the distribution of the colors and intensity.

 

[McCaskill]

I got theses from a breeder and was told she would trade out Roos what do y'all think they are 4 weeks old

[/RIGHT]

 

[debid]

McCaskill, I'd trade them in. Not only do I see pink (likely growing already) combs, I see calico on at least one. Black + white + brick red is male.

Eta: enlarged the photo, both are calico. Surely the breeder knows this!

 

[Tanka]

let me see the tail, but i'm going with roo. i have one just like this one and he's taking forever to feather. 

Here's a couple more pics

 

[mulambo28]

I have 8, 5 week old EE's from a feed store and I suspect a few of them may be roosters based on what I've read here. I really crossing my fingers at least one is and my sister in law wants one if I have two. I appreciate all of your help!
The first one is white with red on the chest and random black/brown feathers in the wings. It appears he is getting more of these random feathers and his comb is small but pinking up.



This next one has tons of dark red and a large comb that is getting pink at the base. It also has thicker legs than some that are obviously pullets.


This is the suspect roo in front of a pullet.


This is my last suspect roo with the above suspect roo behind. He looks a lot like the pullet in the above picture, but has thick legs, large comb and random dark red feathers in the wing. He is also the biggest bird aside from my two barred rocks of the same age. He is also the calmest and bravest (repeatedly launched himself at my dog, hitting her in the face, then roosting on her head and refusing to leave).

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I have 8, 5 week old EE's from a feed store and I suspect a few of them may be roosters based on what I've read here. I really crossing my fingers at least one is and my sister in law wants one if I have two. I appreciate all of your help!
The first one is white with red on the chest and random black/brown feathers in the wings. It appears he is getting more of these random feathers and his comb is small but pinking up.

This is the suspect roo in front of a pullet.


This is my last suspect roo with the above suspect roo behind. He looks a lot like the pullet in the above picture, but has thick legs, large comb and random dark red feathers in the wing. He is also the biggest bird aside from my two barred rocks of the same age. He is also the calmest and bravest (repeatedly launched himself at my dog, hitting her in the face, then roosting on her head and refusing to leave).

Hi mulambo

Welcome to BYC! The good news is I think you are correct in your predictions about the two cockerels, so you and your sister in law will have your roosters. The bad news is these are probably not EEs, so if you were hoping for blue/green eggs, I doubt that any of these birds are carrying the gene for that. Most EEs have green legs, beards and muffs, and pea combs. Of the 3 things, the pea comb is usually inherited along with the blue shell gene.

 

[Veer67]

Hi mulambo     Welcome to BYC!  The good news is I think you are correct in your predictions about the two cockerels, so you and your sister in law will have your roosters.  The bad news is these are probably not EEs, so if you were hoping for blue/green eggs, I doubt that any of these birds are carrying the gene for that.  Most EEs have green legs, beards and muffs, and pea combs.  Of the 3 things, the pea comb is usually inherited along with the blue shell gene. 

X2 on that. By the way, I like your avatar, mulambo28.

 

[mulambo28]

Hi mulambo

Welcome to BYC! The good news is I think you are correct in your predictions about the two cockerels, so you and your sister in law will have your roosters. The bad news is these are probably not EEs, so if you were hoping for blue/green eggs, I doubt that any of these birds are carrying the gene for that. Most EEs have green legs, beards and muffs, and pea combs. Of the 3 things, the pea comb is usually inherited along with the blue shell gene.

Thank you for your input! So if not EEs, what do you think they are? They were advertised as blue/green egg layers. I thought EEs were essentially mutts with the blue/green egg gene.

 

[brandoncakes]

 

[debid]

Thank you for your input! So if not EEs, what do you think they are? They were advertised as blue/green egg layers. I thought EEs were essentially mutts with the blue/green egg gene.

This is true. But, the gene has to come from somewhere. Most of the time,either an Ameraucana or hatchery EE is used for backyard breeding of EEs. Unfortunately, if you breed an EE to something else (that lacks the blue egg gene), you decrease the likelihood of it being inherited. The more generations this is done, the less likely the gene is still present. Your chicks don't resemble typical EEs much at all so while it is possible, it isn't nearly as likely you'll get blue/green colored eggs.