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

[vweers]

@vweers if your dark one is a roo I am in trouble because it looks exactly like my 2 that I am thinking are pullets. One I have posted a couple times and still all vote pullett.

The middle one - is the one that most have said is a pullett. It is the first one that I have been told it might be a roo. But they are still young so it might be okay. I hope yours is a pullet too.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

He's always puffing up his feathers and standing between me and the hen. He makes her sit down in the corner if I get too close. You can see a few wayward head feathers poking out in crazy directions while he's puffing up at me. I'll pet him and smooth them down and back out they come if I don't back away from the tub. He is so mad at us. He just stands there grumbling at us and giving us the stink eye if we're within a few feet of the tub. He's conflicted, he sees us coming and he gets excited, because food. Then he remembers he's mad at us, because of the dog, so the closer we get the more he can't decide if he should be excited about food or if he should peck us. He is healthy aside from the lost feathers and we were going to put him back in the yard, but he and the hen that is injured more seriously are getting along so well. He's not picking at her, and they stay side by side all day. So even though I know his injuries weren't serious and I probably could have put him back outside yesterday, I've left him in with her.

I think the only reason I think he's bigger than the hen is because he keeps puffing up and trying to look big and scary. He's been fooling my eyes but he can't fool the camera. The hen is about 1 week older than him. She was purchased a week before he was, but I also think the EE was younger at the time of purchase than the gold lace's were. I know he is at least 1 week younger than the other chickens. He is definitely heavier than she is though, can't fake that.

He looks pretty good. Glad not too much damage was done. Don't forget though, he's not really mad at you. Somewhat stressed and fearful, but not mad, and he's fulfilling his role as Flock Protector, Defender of Pullets. (Sounds more acceptable that way.

) Petting him may not be the best thing, as he could lose his fear/respect for you and act aggressively. Handle him as needed, but if he's leery, he is probably not going to be one of those teddy bear type roosters. Personally, I think most of the temperament is genetically determined, and I wouldn't want to push my luck.

Too bad about your dog. Both my dogs wanted to chase and pluck. Fortunately, I have enough room to fence off a dog-free chicken zone. Took about a year, but the dogs and I came to an understanding, and now they are trustworthy around all the chickens (even Seramas). Chasing instincts are now directed at squirrels and the neighbors' cats.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Newer photos of my EE suspected Rooster. lol as he grows the more I see differences in the ones I am pretty sure are hens. The comb isn't coming in very big but it is pretty pink.
Love the assisted photobombing!

Here is one that I go back and forth with - still I think pullet more because I want to will it to be. lol
Enlarged view shows some darker red, but not enough to call it yet.

Here is my last EE - I lean towards pullet but I could be wrong. I know the comb tends towards the pink but nothing else screams roo unless I am just not seeing it - I am comparing it to the first one.
Leaning toward pullet despite the big feet!


I am pretty sure they are between 6 to 7 weeks old. I think closer to 7 weeks.

I don't see anything definitive yet. The first two have what looks like pullet coloring, although I can't see the upper wings well on the first, and I do see a couple of dark red spots on the second. The white one strikes me as a pullet. I think it will take at least another week before you know. A lot can happen in a week or two at this age. Keep an eye on the combs and watch for the dark red on the wings.

 

[ameliadanielle]

He looks pretty good.  Glad not too much damage was done.  Don't forget though, he's not really mad at you.  Somewhat stressed and fearful, but not mad, and he's fulfilling his role as Flock Protector, Defender of Pullets.  (Sounds more acceptable that way. )   Petting him may not be the best thing, as he could lose his fear/respect for you and act aggressively.  Handle him as needed, but if he's leery, he is probably not going to be one of those teddy bear type roosters.  Personally, I think most of the temperament is genetically determined, and I wouldn't want to push my luck.     

Too bad about your dog.  Both my dogs wanted to chase and pluck.  Fortunately, I have enough room to fence off a dog-free chicken zone. Took about a year, but the dogs and I came to an understanding, and now they are trustworthy around all the chickens (even Seramas).  Chasing instincts are now directed at squirrels and the neighbors' cats. 

We spent $6000 on that fence for the 1/3 acre for the dog before we even thought about chickens and now she's on a chain. Nothing else we can do. I don't know if I can trust her to give her free reign of the yard again. We already have to bring her inside to feed her because of the pig stealing her food. She's a great family dog, we love her. She's good with all the other animals and our daughter. We love having the chickens too. She does defend our yard. Our neighbors have been having trouble with opossums. Not us.

Our EE is definitely going outside today. He's been venturing forth from the tub. We haven't seen him do it but he did leave a poop on the floor. It's been few days and they're both eating and drinking well. The hen isn't showing any signs of infection. When I get home from work they're totally going outside. It'll be close to bedtime for them so we can watch and make sure the other chickens aren't picking on her. Maybe once they rejoin the others they'll all calm back down.

 

[Bruins]

My EE are 3 weeks old and I know that is too young to guarantee whether they are pullets ( purchased as pullets) .
I am wondering about what age do you see the comb developing .
I can not really see the combs on either chick ( well compared to my rir & sussex chick which I can easily see ) , there is a little yellow line on both but I can see if there are 3 rows developing .

I am really just trying to see any very early signs , the 2 EE are my daughters pick and I would like to drop hints and prepare her if they are roo's because they will have to go.

 

[ameliadanielle]

It's such a beautiful day today I couldn't keep them cooped up in the bathroom again. I'm going in to work late and I went ahead and put them outside. None of the others messed with the injured hen. Our EE quickly put a few of the girls in their place. Now he's standing guard over them while they eat and scratch around.

 

[ameliadanielle]

My EE are 3 weeks old and I know that is too young to guarantee whether they are pullets ( purchased as pullets) .
I am wondering about what age do you see the comb developing .
I can not really see the combs on either chick ( well compared to my rir & sussex chick which I can easily see ) , there is a little yellow line on both but I can see if there are 3 rows developing .

I am really just trying to see any very early signs , the 2 EE are my daughters pick and I would like to drop hints and prepare her if they are roo's because they will have to go.

My EE I'm not positive on until he starts crowing but I do greatly believe he's rooster. Around 5 weeks I noticed his comb was getting brighter and it has steadily gotten more red and bigger over the past three weeks. He didn't really act like a rooster in that time, just held his tail feathers differently and had the bright red comb. A few days ago our dog decided to pluck him and one of our hens and since then he's really been acting like a rooster. So maybe that brought out that behavior earlier than normal. I'll be highly surprised if my guy lays an egg instead of crowing.

 

[newmarch2014]

We have 2 dogs that are not chicken safe, the chickens have a dog proof run to be in when those dogs have outside time. They are only allowed out to free range when the chicken safe dog is out with them. When we make the dog switch we just call them to the run with a handful of mealworms, easy peasy.

 

[ameliadanielle]

Our chickens have free range of the entire yard. While we can keep the dog inside most of the time, we still have to worry about our 4 year old letting her out or having to walk her on a leash. She doesn't particularly like being in the house. She was raised outside around chickens as a puppy. She is always nervous and trying to get outside when she is inside. It was hard to keep her inside for a few days and away from the chickens, not to mention all the great Pyrenees hair all over everything. We built a small coop for the chickens when they were little and we first put them out. They spent most of their time trying to escape, when we started leaving the door open they used to go back in at night and sleep for about a week but now they never go into it. They sleep under the pig shelter with the pig if it's raining. If it's not raining they have instead decided they will just sleep on the back steps. To leave the dog free in the yard, we would have to keep them penned up all day while we're at work. Keeping the dog inside when we aren't home isn't an option. She will chew up everything she can get her paws on and I don't even know where to find a dog crate big enough to hold her, she's a giant. Maybe with time on the chain seeing the chickens and not being able to get to them, she will start ignoring them again. I don't know. I'm thinking we may have to find her a good home that just doesn't have chickens. It's bad, I defended that dog up and down. She was doing an excellent job guarding the yard. Her brother is doing a great job doing what he's supposed to do. She didn't do this when she was a puppy and was surrounded by chickens and had ample opportunity. I guess I'm just disappointed. We'll figure it out. Even if we have to try and make a house dog out of her.

 

[4chix4me]

I'm starting to get worried about my 5 week old EE, Ruby. She looks to be developing a triple peacomb. I am hoping you all think she looks like a pullet still. We got her from a presexed bin at a farm supply store. Any opinions greatly appreciated!