I've noticed the penciling, but I never thought about the solid black collar...interesting!Your black & white EE might be a boy. I have noticed that my EE chicks that develop a solid black collar behind the neck end up as roos. The ones with a more penciled collar turned out pullets. A lot of solid white wing patches (on black & whites) or solid red patches (on other colors) are other feather coloration clues for males. Of course there are more things to look for in boys like thicker legs, 3 rowed comb, early red comb, & upright stance.
My rooster age 4-5 weeks (Notice the black collar, thick legs, & red spots could be seen even before he got all his feathers.) The second pic is the same boy (older) trying to show his girls how to lay an egg.
Here's my EE pullet at around 7-8 weeks. Her neck feathers looked pointed b/c of the penciling, her tail curved, & the summer heat made the comb look darker. We thought a male until someone pointed out that the penciling was more of a female trait. The actual feathers are not pointed. We never believed it until she laid her first green-blue egg.
Someone already said this, so I'm agreeingHere are four of my Easter Eggers at 3 weeks old, any sexing guesses? Chick #3 is a lot leggier and much more independent than the others, and chick #4 has always been more round faced and bodied.
Chick #1
Chick #2
Chick #3
Chick #4
#2 & #4 look like pullets, #3 looks more like a little roo, #1...tos up..I feel like I'm leaning more toward roo but I couldn't give you a specific reason lol
I'm going with the others: black and blue: pullets, barred..that comb looks more male. But I've heard brighter barring means male and darker, more blurred barring means female?thanks kenzier and ladycluck!
anyone else want to lay their bets?
x
That may not apply to EEs though. Don't get your hopes up! lol
Yeah...my 2 buffs were nowhere near that developed at 13 weeks. One of mine is STILL lighter than that and she's 24 weeks today.Given what I have just read about sexing EEs, I have these photos for you to consider. I bought 10 chicks, all supposedly pullets, born on March 26. 7 are EEs, although sold as Araucanas, and 3 Buff Orps. The B&W one in the 2nd photo was about half the size of all the others when they were about 2 months old, but now that she has caught up in size, she looks to me to be female. The EE in the last 2 photos however, has more of the body shape discussed here and might be a cockerel? Curious to know what you think...
(pictures uploaded backwards...)
First photo of the Buff Orp—she must be a he—she looks nothing like the other 2 who are exactly the same age. They don't even have combs yet.
The first B&W is a pullet, second is a roo. He looks like he'll be quite the looker though.
