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

[debid]

Hatcheries produce chickens with pea combs, beards, and the blue egg gene. They don't meet Ameraucana standards but the goal is to make them Ameraucana-like. Most also carry genes for brown egg coating rendering the eggs visually green. They are known to cross in other breeds (notably, Leghorn) to improve productivity.

Backyard breeders might breed hatchery EEs with other breeds, hatchery EEs with EEs, or they might make their own EE with an Ameraucana rooster and something else (like a white Leghorn -- this is sometimes dubbed a "super blue layer).

There's no telling by appearances how yours came to be but if you ask the breeder, they will likely be happy to tell you.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote:
The genes for pea combs and blue shells are not linked, but (for Ameraucana and Araucana breeds) these genes are found very close together on the chromosome. Because they are so close together, these genes seldom separate during cellular division in the production of sperm and egg cells. Of course it does happen, like in your black EE, but it is a relatively rare event. In pure bred birds, it wouldn't matter if the switch takes place, because you would see a blue shell gene replace the separated blue shell gene. When people or hatcheries cross blue shell layers with white shell layers, you will notice when the genes are switched, especially if the chicken also has genes for the brown coating. If I was looking through a bin of EE chicks, and wanted blue/breen eggs, my chances would be better (but not 100%) if I picked a chick with a pea comb.

 

[chickydoos]

The genes for pea combs and blue shells are not linked, but (for Ameraucana and Araucana breeds) these genes are found very close together on the chromosome.  Because they are so close together, these genes seldom separate during cellular division in the production of sperm and egg cells.  Of course it does happen, like in your black EE, but it is a relatively rare event.  In pure bred birds, it wouldn't matter if the switch takes place, because you would see a blue shell gene replace the separated blue shell gene.  When people or hatcheries cross blue shell layers with white shell layers, you will notice when the genes are switched, especially if the chicken also has genes for the brown coating.  If I was looking through a bin of EE chicks, and wanted blue/breen eggs, my chances would be better (but not 100%) if I picked a chick with a pea comb. 

Very well explained....I am breeding super blue layers like Debid was explaining... For example I have a TRUE rumpless araucana roo. And I am trying a cross with him with my Brown leghorn hen. since he carries two copies of the blue egg gene while my leghorn carries white egg gene, blue dominates white, so I will have super blue egg layers.

 

[chickydoos]

 

[Wishing4Wings]

He's beautiful! What a great project. Another EE type is always great!

Hope you post pics of the chicks here. I'd love to see how their combs develop. Are you going to call them Super Blues?
You probably know about the University of Arkansas blue layers. They were produced from a similar cross.

Next week I'm getting couple of Cream Legbar pullet chicks to put under a very broody hen. I'm curious to see the quality of the blue shells compared to my EEs.

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

He's beautiful!  What a great project.  Another EE type is always great!  :yiipchick   Hope you post pics of the chicks here.  I'd love to see how their combs develop.  Are you going to call them Super Blues? 
You probably know about the University of Arkansas blue layers.  They were produced from a similar cross.

Next week I'm getting couple of Cream Legbar pullet chicks to put under a very broody hen.  I'm curious to see the quality of the blue shells compared to my EEs. 

I've heard they're not really any different or else lighter. I've never heard darker. Let's post photos and compare when they do start laying!

 

[polarbearpilot]

He's beautiful! What a great project. Another EE type is always great!

Hope you post pics of the chicks here. I'd love to see how their combs develop. Are you going to call them Super Blues?
You probably know about the University of Arkansas blue layers. They were produced from a similar cross.

Next week I'm getting couple of Cream Legbar pullet chicks to put under a very broody hen. I'm curious to see the quality of the blue shells compared to my EEs.

I got 6 Cream Legbar eggs in the incubator right now. They are not really any bluer than eggs from my EEs. Somewhat disappointed though. I thought they were a darker shade of blue, but no. The good thing is that Cream Legbar chicks are autosexed so I can tell boys from girls right away when they hatch.

 

[lcvedder]

Ok. I think I finally know what I have and my EEs are almost ten weeks-old! I think the easiest way for me to be sure was their tail feathers. Between 6-9 weeks the pointedness was very obvious in the males. Its very clear in the pic below in the lighter feathered chicks. From left to right I'm now almost certain they are f m m f m m m.

Hopefully I will get much better at this for future hatches. Thanks for all the tips. I think I would still be clueless without this forum.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yes, major bonus on the autosexing! Big reason I'm getting them for my broody hen.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

I was pretty sure this morning that my 8 week old EE was a cockerel because I thought it was trying to crow. However I have never raised baby chicks before so it could have been a different noise. Anyhoo, a friend of mine is saying female. This pic was taken at 7 weeks. Thoughts?