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

[limaro]

Just wanted to thank you all for the information you share so generously!
I'm new to chickens, with my 2 week old chicks still in the brooder. Ordered all girls from a hatchery. I understand the "science" of sexing isn't perfect. I've noticed one of the girls is growing faster, more active and adventurous than the others. She was the 1st to flutter to the top of the feeder and always the first to greet me when I attend to their needs. I'm getting worried that she may be a rooster, just because of her more assertive behavior. We can't have roosters in our neighborhood. Ironically, my son gave her a boy name - Gerald- on day one, way before any suspicions. She was seriously my favorite, but now I'm pulling back and trying not to get too attached just in case I can't keep her. It's making me sad and worried tonight.

I'll post pictures when they're further along. Just needed to vent a bit tonight and looking for some sympathy and encouragement! Behavior this young is probably not an indicator yet, right?

 

[Bethel3330]

The first b/w is a pulled and the second one is a cockerel.

x2

 

[DoubleMM]

Just wanted to thank you all for the information you share so generously!
I'm new to chickens, with my 2 week old chicks still in the brooder. Ordered all girls from a hatchery. I understand the "science" of sexing isn't perfect. I've noticed one of the girls is growing faster, more active and adventurous than the others. She was the 1st to flutter to the top of the feeder and always the first to greet me when I attend to their needs. I'm getting worried that she may be a rooster, just because of her more assertive behavior. We can't have roosters in our neighborhood. Ironically, my son gave her a boy name - Gerald- on day one, way before any suspicions. She was seriously my favorite, but now I'm pulling back and trying not to get too attached just in case I can't keep her. It's making me sad and worried tonight.

I'll post pictures when they're further along. Just needed to vent a bit tonight and looking for some sympathy and encouragement! Behavior this young is probably not an indicator yet, right?

Hello limaro,

Welcome to BYC and to one of the heartbreaks of keeping chickens. A couple of thinks so we might help,

A) What breed? (some are easier to sex after hatch, and/or other clues at this point like leg size/color, difference between others of the same breed you have, etc)
B) What hatchery? While sexing isn't a science, with a reputable hatchery the odds are greatly in your favor that you did get a pullet. While two week is young, a picture now may help others point out clues.
C) Young bird behavior can be fickle, so there is always hope.

Since you can't keep roosters, I would suggest starting the process of where this little one may need to be placed.


I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you

 

[Jewellan]

The black and white one looks like a she to me. The buff orpington is a boy, i can see saddle feathers.

What is a Saddle feature? I have heard that a few times.

 

[Bethel3330]

What is a Saddle feature? I have heard that a few times.

This thread has some good pictures that'll illustrate. It's the feathers in front of the tails in males. They are long and hang down, often more pointy. The females' are rounded and shorter.https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nderstand-hackle-feathers-and-saddle-feathers

 

[limaro]

Hello limaro,

Welcome to BYC and to one of the heartbreaks of keeping chickens. A couple of thinks so we might help,

A) What breed? (some are easier to sex after hatch, and/or other clues at this point like leg size/color, difference between others of the same breed you have, etc)
B) What hatchery? While sexing isn't a science, with a reputable hatchery the odds are greatly in your favor that you did get a pullet. While two week is young, a picture now may help others point out clues.
C) Young bird behavior can be fickle, so there is always hope.

Since you can't keep roosters, I would suggest starting the process of where this little one may need to be placed.


I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you

Thanks for the reply Double MM. Your kind words are reassuring.

I have 3 Easter Eggers and 2 Buckeyes from Meyer Hatchery. I've read through so much of this thread that I feel like a true student of Chicken Sexing- learning from the masters! I do think I'll wait another couple of weeks for pictures, just to improve the odds on any guesses.

I am feeling better this morning - hopeful but still resigned to posting a rehoming ad here and on CL if it becomes necessary.

 

[CGinJCMO]

I find my boys seem to feather in slowly,,,like they are trying to make me guess if they are going to have red shoulders or not. ( I even had one cockerel with a naked back and no tail he was so slow to grow feathers. I actually was worried that the other chicks were picking them but never could catch them in the act if the were. That one is the only one I saw like that.) I find it easier to pick out the suspect boys when I have several chicks the same age. But then again, I'm hatching my own and I expect to find male and female chicks. It's probably harder when I expect them all to be girls and I'm trying to see if one isn't like the others. As for the jumping behaviors, it could just be a dominate hen-in-the-making, or a few hours older so it ready to explore before everyone else was fully rested, etc,. There's just too many reasons why it's more "agressive" besides the 'it must be a cockerel' theory. I'd enjoy what you've got while they are little and when they a little older we can help figure out if you have any boys and then you can decide from there what to do.

CG

 

[subhanalah]

I find my boys seem to feather in slowly,,,like they are trying to make me guess if they are going to have red shoulders or not. ( I even had one cockerel with a naked back and no tail he was so slow to grow feathers.  I actually was worried that the other chicks were picking them but never could catch them in the act if the were.  That one is the only one I saw like that.)  I find it easier to pick out the suspect boys when I have several chicks the same age.  But then again, I'm hatching my own and I expect to find male and female chicks.  It's probably harder when I expect them all to be girls and I'm trying to see if one isn't like the others.  As for the jumping behaviors, it could just be a dominate hen-in-the-making, or a few hours older so it ready to explore before everyone else was fully rested, etc,.  There's just too many reasons why it's more "agressive" besides the 'it must be a cockerel' theory.  I'd enjoy what you've got while they are little and when they a little older we can help figure out if you have any boys and then you can decide from there what to do. 

CG

my smallest chicken is the head hen, she's been chest bumping and neck flaring since she was about 2 days old!

 

[debid]

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? I have 2 EEs pullets and they have both lost their tail feathers, as well as my 2 black sex links. I'm sorry to post elsewhere but didn't get a response. Does anyone know if this is okay?

[/IMG]

Most likely molting. Mine tend to drop their tail feathers all at once, too. There are several juvenile molts and the last big one prior to laying happens somewhere around 4 months.

 

[Sunflower3628ac]

This is the blue/black chick with feathered feet. (Pardon the mess, hadn't cleaned the patio floor yet)

This is my blue/tan girl named chip.

This is momma non-bearded Ameraucana hen that is sitting again. I only gave her 2 eggs to set and 2 false eggs. I am out of room in my coop and my husband hates me since I have caused him to have to enlarge the existing coop to accommodate probably 40 chickens once this season is over.

This is my Mille Fleur d'Uccle Rooster, French Fry, who fertilized the eggs that my girls lay.

Here are the product of French Fry and Egg McMuffin with Ameraucana and Buff Orpington hens.

Same pic as above. (sorry)

Buff Orpington chick (pullet - Pattycake)



Buff Orpington chick - peanut butter.

I'm sure I have 2 roos out of the 7. I hope that is all I don't need anymore roosters. I have a buff orpington hen named goldie locks with 2 chicks that are 3 weeks old.
These chickies are on the patio since the hawk took one right out from underneath my nose. I can't believe it was so brazen. I also have a dutch bantam hen, Shirley, living on the patio in a parrot cage since she was attached by a hawk six months ago. I was fortunate to save her but can't let her live in the big coop with the big girls. She is the lowest hen in the pecking order. Besides that my boys race to her and knock her out practically from chasing her and climbing all over her trying to mate. She weighs less than a pound. The chicks on the patio with her are 9 weeks old and already larger than her. I've gone a little chicken crazy.