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

[ChickenPox]

Two boys would make me very sad.

 

[ChickenPox]

That's all I have, back at work now. But fo' reals......I can handle one boy (even though I already have an EE roo.) But dunno if I could juggle two more. Sad face.

 

[minirexmom]

Both pullets. (We have a blue minirex! He's a sweetie.)

Thank you Wishing4Wings! That is what I was hoping to hear.

Our Mini Rex have always been sweet too!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Two boys would make me very sad.

I could easily be wrong. Are you sure on the age? They look younger than 7 weeks. Are the combs similar in shape? How about the comb color? They looked pink in the first pic, but not so much here. The one you think is a cockerel sure looks like one, but the other

. Watch for the comb to go red in the next week, then you'll know for sure.

 

[ChickenPox]

Thanks! I will keep hope! They actually might be younger than 7 weeks, I have so many at different ages, it's hard to keep up. The combs are a bit on the pinkish side, but not red. I have some older birds (not EE) that I"m having a hard time determining sex on. I've owned chickens for years, but seem to have lost my eye completely for figuring out if they are boys or girls! LOL! (Like I seriously have a hard time with some of my 4-5 month olds.....yes, really!) LOL!

 

[ChickenPox]

Oh forgot shape......nope, the one I"m afraid is a boy seems much wider through the comb. The other one is narrow.

 

[ChickenPox]

This is my EE roo, Kermit. My older flock picks a bit, so I guess thats the reason he has no tail? Or he inherited the "rumpless" trait? Ive never seen a tailess EE, but i suppose anything is possible! Lol!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

This is my EE roo, Kermit. My older flock picks a bit, so I guess thats the reason he has no tail? Or he inherited the "rumpless" trait? Ive never seen a tailess EE, but i suppose anything is possible! Lol!

Kermit could be from Araucana stock. They are rumpless, which is different than not having tail feathers. I think they are actually missing the end of the tail (no "Pope's Nose"). Has he ever had tail feathers?

Thanks! I will keep hope! They actually might be younger than 7 weeks, I have so many at different ages, it's hard to keep up. The combs are a bit on the pinkish side, but not red. I have some older birds (not EE) that I"m having a hard time determining sex on. I've owned chickens for years, but seem to have lost my eye completely for figuring out if they are boys or girls! LOL! (Like I seriously have a hard time with some of my 4-5 month olds.....yes, really!) LOL!

I blame it all on the weather!

 

[ChickenPox]

The weather sounds like a great scapegoat! LOL!

Honestly, I can't remember if he's ever had tail feathers or not. Everyone else in the pen does, most of the picking seems to be done on their backs.....like where his saddle feathers are. I think I got rid of the worst offenders, and the symptoms have reduced dramatically, thank goodness. Some birds seem to the the targets, while others show no signs. Maybe this weekend I will sneak in the coop at night and see if I can find a "pope nose." I'm pretty sure I know what you are talking about.....the little "bump" right near the end of the body on top? Araucana's don't have those? I would LOVE to have some true Araucanas one day!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yup, it's that little roundish knob at the end of the backbone. The chickens can raise it up and down, which raises the tail feathers. Kermit looks rumpless to me, otherwise he'd have a bare red bum sticking out! In addition to being rumpless, true Araucanas have feather "tufts" sticking out of their cheeks rather than muffs and beards like Kermit. They also have a lethal gene that causes about a quarter of the offspring to die before hatching. Personally I'm partial to EEs and Ameraucanas.

I took this pic at a chicken show. See the crazy Araucana tufts? Pretty cool.

Oh, is it possible that the bare backs you are seeing in your flock aren't from over breeding by the rooster? Sometimes they have their favorite hens who get too much attention, and the breeding causes feather loss. But, if you've seen them picking, that's another story. I have a crazy Leghorn hen that will pull feathers and even mount the other hens. She wants to be the boss since I don't have a rooster with that flock.