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

[10whiskers]

00ps

 

[10whiskers]

Why would putting 2x4s on top of the 2x2s reduce the number of roosts?

Pretty cool your chickens "play". Mine never exhibit any "personal interaction" other than pecking order "reminders". Other than that they go about their chicken business singly or in groups.

Chickens do seem to be able to recover from cuts pretty well, even without treatment as long as it doesn't get infected. As far as treating them for anything, or even just a "check over by feel" what I have read repeatedly is to wait until night when it is dark and they are up on the roost. They see very poorly in the dark and won't make so much fuss when you pick them up.

It wouldn't. I wasn't clear in my reply. I meant that if I didn't change my entire configuration of the roost to reduce poop board splatter and possible egg breakage should the girls lay eggs while they are on the roost, then I would put up the 2x4's asap. I was lamenting how my girls would loose their "jungle-gym", because I would have to get rid of my four bar, staggered, roost that I currently have.
Below, is a picture of iwiw60's setup, that I 'd like to use. (Sorry, I can't figure out how to link her photo from another thread into this post.)

It is sad to think mine will stop playing, but maybe it's because I sit and watch them for long periods and catch them doing the craziest things. Yesterday, Ginger picked up and started to eat a stray piece of straw. She had 1/3 of it down when Liza came up and started to eat the other end. I was thinking it was going to come to the scene in "Lady and the Tramp" when they ended up "kissing" when they started on either end of a piece of long spaghetti. Not to end that way, because Joonie grabbed it from the middle and I thought it was going to be a three way "kiss", but Joonie stole it out of the throats of Ginger and Liza. They are just too funny.

I checked Gilda today and she is fine. No new bites, scabs fine, and not one incident of bullying. I'm glad you mentioned the "in the dark" approach. I'll try that.

 

[10whiskers]

If these pullets are from a hatchery and have been mostly caged, you probably don't need to worry about worms yet, unless you see some symptoms. I wouldn't treat for mites unless I saw some on them or signs that they have them. Do you have a place for them to dust bathe? Mostly they will take care of themselves by bathing, but it's always a good idea to check regularly for mites. The prickly things on Joonie's neck were probably some pin feathers coming in. They look like porcupine quills.

I have never seen fowl pox except in pictures, but from what I can see, Gilda's spots look more like injuries. (You'll know if the rest get fowl pox.) They can heal from terrible things, as long as there's no infection. Watch her closely because, like all birds, chickens mask their illness from the flock, so by the time we usually notice, they are pretty bad off. If she looks to be getting worse, you should post about her in the medical/emergencies forum. There are some really knowledgeable people who check in there frequently.

Hanging the cabbage: I use a skewer to poke a hole through the cabbage and then push a wire through. I usually use ½ a cabbage at a time. Twist the wire ends together and hang by a cord from a rafter. There are probably other ways to do it, but this worked for for me. It takes them longer to eat it this way because it swings when they peck at it. Kale leaves can just be thrown in too, and it will take them some time to figure out how to rip pieces off. The bigger/older they get, the less they tend to fly, so I have never had problems with them flying into a cord. (Also, they need access to pebbles/grit to digest anything other than crumbles/pellets.) I love watching them play like that. My EEs used to play chicken-bomber when they were in the brooder, as soon as the wing feathers came in. The other chicks didn't know what hit them!

As Bruce said, after dark is a good time to do health checks or administer meds. Chickens have very poor night vision. It helps if someone can hold a flashlight for you.

As for the roosts, you could change out the top two where they will be sleeping, and leave the others. Those brackets you are using can fit a 2x4, you'll just have to rotate it to make them flat.

Hope Gilda gets better and grows some!

I bought these girls at a bird/plant/feed store. They had been caged for only two weeks for the first three I bought and four weeks for the other three I bought. The lady had got them from someone else. I tried, but couldn't get a hatch date, vaccination status, or any others information other than they were supposed to be about 5 1/2 months old on Oct 2, 2014. I have no idea about their environment before then.

I caught them in an dust bathing orgy a few days ago (Gilda included). I will take your advice and go to the injuries and illnesses forum. Thanks on the info on how to feed the girls cabbage and kale. I'm pretty sure I can do it with your description. I will have to buy grit, because I've only been giving them feed - no treats. I was going to give them eggs, but then when the bullying with Gilda started, I didn't know if it would cause chaos if some got some and some didn't. Speaking of Gilda, she seems better today. There are no new injuries and she acted a bit more assertive when feeding and drinking.

I did put the "safe house" in for Gilda, but made it too big. ALL the girls got in it one at a time EXCEPT for Gilda. I'll have to think smaller.

I will do my best with accessing and administering meds in a near dark environment. I will probably end up with cuts and bruises, but I suppose that's what one has to do if they are going to be a chicken owner. I never once thought this would be so hard. I've had horses and two German Shepard's, but chickens just seem so delicate to me. Thanks so much for your experiences and advice.

 

[Faraday40]

I bought these girls at a bird/plant/feed store. They had been caged for only two weeks for the first three I bought and four weeks for the other three I bought. The lady had got them from someone else. I tried, but couldn't get a hatch date, vaccination status, or any others information other than they were supposed to be about 5 1/2 months old on Oct 2, 2014. I have no idea about their environment before then.

I caught them in an dust bathing orgy a few days ago (Gilda included). I will take your advice and go to the injuries and illnesses forum. Thanks on the info on how to feed the girls cabbage and kale. I'm pretty sure I can do it with your description. I will have to buy grit, because I've only been giving them feed - no treats. I was going to give them eggs, but then when the bullying with Gilda started, I didn't know if it would cause chaos if some got some and some didn't. Speaking of Gilda, she seems better today. There are no new injuries and she acted a bit more assertive when feeding and drinking.

I did put the "safe house" in for Gilda, but made it too big. ALL the girls got in it one at a time EXCEPT for Gilda. I'll have to think smaller.

I will do my best with accessing and administering meds in a near dark environment. I will probably end up with cuts and bruises, but I suppose that's what one has to do if they are going to be a chicken owner. I never once thought this would be so hard. I've had horses and two German Shepard's, but chickens just seem so delicate to me. Thanks so much for your experiences and advice.

Have you tried training the chickens a little. Basically, I simply call them & have some treats (like mealworms) to give them. Soon they'll come running to you without calling. Move on to hand feeding & some handling once they feel more comfortable. Around 20+ weeks (when they get ready to lay), they calm down a lot. Not all of mine will jump into my lap for snuggles. That varies by the individual hen, but all are calm once I pick them up. There's no need for you to chase them. They're animals & they know who feeds them.

 

[10whiskers]

Have you tried training the chickens a little. Basically, I simply call them & have some treats (like mealworms) to give them. Soon they'll come running to you without calling. Move on to hand feeding & some handling once they feel more comfortable. Around 20+ weeks (when they get ready to lay), they calm down a lot. Not all of mine will jump into my lap for snuggles. That varies by the individual hen, but all are calm once I pick them up. There's no need for you to chase them. They're animals & they know who feeds them.

I have not hand feed past their regular food to the first girls. I stopped that when I got the next three. It seemed to me, that it was causing problems, because the later birds got picked at by the original girls when the new girls came too close to me when I had feed in my hand. (I got the first three around 5 weeks ago and their cage-mates about 2 weeks ago. They were already 5 1/2 months old when I got the first three. They are supposed to be the same age. I'm trying to let the come-lately birds integrate, so there is stress on them and me.)

I've never owned chickens, but I've never used food to train my horses or dogs. High praises, pats and scratches for accomplishments and ignore or isolate depending on the infraction.

I don't plan on using treats to win these girls over either. I'll put extra food in a dish or other means only for health or boredom reasons, but I don't want them to associate me with threats.

My plan is to sit close by them and let them see I am not a threat. I'm hoping over time, that they will accept me as part of the flock, but always on the top of the pecking order. Pecks out of curiosity, I'll permit, but not a peck out of a challenge. I DID chase one down while I was inside the coop because she did challenge and peck me. All of them are molting and not realizing that it might be painful, I picked her up, but immediately put her down when I felt her prickly neck. I won't do that again. She hasn't challenged me or pecked me again, though.

I'll see if me talking to them and singing the theme from "Gilligan's Island" to them will get them to come closer. For some reason, they stop what they are doing and listen to me sing the whole theme song. I've sung all I know to them with no reaction except to that tune. Go figure...

Thank you for your advice

. I just don't know if it would work with my personality or philosophy and whatever happened to them 5 1/2 months before I got them. If they never warm up to me, it's okay. I enjoy watching and taking care of them.

 

[bruceha2000]

I will do my best with accessing and administering meds in a near dark environment. I will probably end up with cuts and bruises, but I suppose that's what one has to do if they are going to be a chicken owner.

I see no reason you will have cuts and bruises unless you walk into a wall or something. The birds are not going to attack you. Just pick them up around the wings and body so they feel secure. And they tend (at least in my limited experience) to go pretty docile if you hold them on their backs - feet to the sky. Unlike a cat which would most likely make a mess of your hands, arms and face if they are not happy in that position.

I don't plan on using treats to win these girls over either. I'll put extra food in a dish or other means only for health or boredom reasons, but I don't want them to associate me with threats.

Because? Chickens are not dogs, nor are they horses. I don't think you will get too far praising a chicken. Ignoring them is just FINE with them, they generally don't give a rat's patootie about you unless you bring food and water or dig in a place where they can find their own treats.

Their lives are mostly "hunt food, eat food, do it again". While some chickens may like human attention and a lap, I think they are the exception. You aren't going to buy the chickens' affections with treats, you are going to teach them you are the source of goodies and when you want them to go somewhere they will be more than happy to follow. Now if your chickens are "coop and run" only, no need. But if they range all over the place in small groups here and there and you want to put them all up before they want to be put up, it makes your life a LOT easier

I suppose it is different if you hand raise a chick SPECIFICALLY as a lap pet. Don't know, never done it, have ZERO desire to have lap chickens.

 

[Faraday40]

My EEs are curious, very friendly, & each has a unique, quirky personality.
* One enjoys chasing squirrels.
* One is a smart problem solver.
* One is absolutely beautiful, but dumb as a brick.
None are lap chickens. We have 2 Orpingtons for that.

 

[10whiskers]

I see no reason you will have cuts and bruises unless you walk into a wall or something. The birds are not going to attack you. Just pick them up around the wings and body so they feel secure. And they tend (at least in my limited experience) to go pretty docile if you hold them on their backs - feet to the sky. Unlike a cat which would most likely make a mess of your hands, arms and face if they are not happy in that position.


Because? Chickens are not dogs, nor are they horses. I don't think you will get too far praising a chicken. Ignoring them is just FINE with them, they generally don't give a rat's patootie about you unless you bring food and water or dig in a place where they can find their own treats.

Their lives are mostly "hunt food, eat food, do it again". While some chickens may like human attention and a lap, I think they are the exception. You aren't going to buy the chickens' affections with treats, you are going to teach them you are the source of goodies and when you want them to go somewhere they will be more than happy to follow. Now if your chickens are "coop and run" only, no need. But if they range all over the place in small groups here and there and you want to put them all up before they want to be put up, it makes your life a LOT easier

I suppose it is different if you hand raise a chick SPECIFICALLY as a lap pet. Don't know, never done it, have ZERO desire to have lap chickens.

Yes, I was talking about walking into a wall. I was advised, that since I can't touch or feel the birds without them freaking out, that I should do it in the night with a flashlight. If they don't get sick between now and a full moon, I think I just wait and do it then.

They are only in a 8x10' coop; no run. The run will have to come next spring. I don't need or want lap chickens. I just want to be able to pick them up so I can examine and treat them. I suppose I can bring a small folding table into the coop. There's room for that.

 

[10whiskers]

My EEs are curious, very friendly, & each has a unique, quirky personality.
* One enjoys chasing squirrels.
* One is a smart problem solver.
* One is absolutely beautiful, but dumb as a brick.
None are lap chickens. We have 2 Orpingtons for that.

My EE girls are curious and getting friendlier by the day, but still very cautious. They are quite unique and have loads of personality, too. They are also smarter than I though chickens would be. Even if I only sit with them for an hour some days, I learn something new about their behavior.

It took awhile, but they finally know the word "wait", at least concerning the water container. I finally got them to abandon piling on the cinder block (where the water goes) when I pick up the water container. Then, when I come back inside the coop, (Of course, they do see me walking up the path to them) I say "wait" and they won't try to drink until I've turned it over, set it down and let it fill up. Ginger was the worst offender, but today, she reprimanded Lovey! Though it was probably, because Ginger is fighting for position with Lovey in the pecking order. I thought that was pretty cool. I know, I know, they probably all try and get up on the cinder block when I'm out of view, but when the cat's away...

 

[Faraday40]

Here's Tyrion. One of our favorite Easter Eggers.
Because of all the white & its fearless personality, we thought male.





Notice the upright stance in the pic above.



Comb turned red & tail curved. Again suspected male. No crowing, so we waited.


But wait.... Someone mentioned that an even pattern = female. Comb red, but small. There's hope!


Way to go Tyrion! (March 2014)


We love Tyrion's fearless personality. She's small but at the top of the pecking order. She'll take treats from the hands of strangers (others are too "chicken") and steal food from the big dog. Our dogs hate squirrels & rabbits; they chase them from the yard. Tyrion joins them. Our guard chicken is always on patrol duty & ready to chase - even when the dogs are inside the house. Squirrels beware!

This spring my daughter incubated eggs/ hatched chicks. We've been getting reports that Tyrion's daughters also enjoy a good squirrel or rabbit chase. Does anyone else have a chicken that does this? Should I try to teach her how to play fetch?

Gotta love the EE's personalities.


And here's the next gen of squirrel chasing pullets:
(We only kept the 1st one. The others are chasing rodents in their new homes.)