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

[califarmgirl]

So on my young roo, I separated the feathers on his back and discovered pointy iridescent saddle feathers developing. You might want to see if your young chick has any of these starting to show. (near his rump) Also, my 8/9 week old roo has started to get some iridescent hackle feathers around his neck. You can see them really shine in the sunlight. Take your birds out in the sun and look to see if you see any shine to his feathers. (Some pullets had this for me...like my RIR has an iridescence, but it is mostly a roo thing. The feathers on either end are pullet feathers. The ones in the middle belong to males. Also, look for stance. This male has a male stance, has slow feathering in the shoulders and has almost no tail development. This is all classic male signs. For those wondering about the black/white patterns of their chicks, don't give up. I was told this was a male. This black/white hen on the right is all female. She has those rust colors all over. She lays a pretty light blue egg!

Thank you so much. This info is very helpful. My EEs are 8 weeks and I'm hoping to spot a roo before the first crow!

 

[cortner1195]

If I may ask, what are the characteristics of a EE? The 2 week old that I posted pics of today has a larger tail than the one with the lighter legs. So confused!

 

[polarbearpilot]

Please help me... Out of the 4 sexed pullets I bought, two of them are roos. I just got another chick, hoping to have a girl. Please!?

Taffy (white) is 6.5 weeks. Jade is in the middle, and the new chick is on the right. Jade and the new one are just a bit younger.


New one on the left






6.5 week old roo in front. New one (just a bit younger) in the back

I am no expert, but the white one looks more like pullet than the other two.

 

[Pent]

If I may ask, what are the characteristics of a EE? The 2 week old that I posted pics of today has a larger tail than the one with the lighter legs. So confused!

Basically, and EE, or Easter Egger, is any bird that had the blue egg gene. It causes them to lay all sorts of colors when mixed with other breeds, like greens, olive, pink, etc. There isn't really a set list of traits, as they are more mutts than an actual breed; Its why I call mine Ameraucana. They aren't a pure color variety, but they also were only bred from other 'canas, instead of being mixed with, say, buff orpingtons or silkies.

 

[chicknnugget]

Thanks for the info. I posted pics of my bird in question. The photo of your hen makes me feel a little more hopeful that I may have a hen. Quess i'll just have to wait. Again thank you so much for the very helpful post!

 

[chicknnugget]

Thank you so much. This info is very helpful. My EEs are 8 weeks and I'm hoping to spot a roo before the first crow!

Thanks for the very helpful info. I posted a few pics. of my bird in question. The photo of your hen makes me feel a little more hopeful that a could still have a hen with red on the wings. Though it isa real long shot. lol! Again thank you for all the information!

 

[chicknnugget]

Hi fellow chicken people! I have been looking all the pictures and comments re: the sex of our EE's. A few weeks ago, I just knew I would have two happy little hen friends. Now I have what I think is a chicken couple. These cuties are 10 weeks old, and the bird in question is the lighter bird. What do ya'll think?





This chicken is a dude! Right! LOL.

does anybody think my light colored bird is a hen? I have some serious reservations aboout (shim?)!

 

[debid]

cortner1195, I had exactly the same difference in chick size with mine. One dainty chick and one moose. The moose was taller, thicker in the leg, much more human-friendly, and had a very upright stance. Once they feathered, it was obvious they are both pullets. The dainty one is built just like a Leghorn -- huge tail, slender build, skinny legs. The moose is much thicker and blockier but she no longer looks like a male now that her shape is rounding out a bit. She's just BIG. MPC has a very good sexing rate. Try not to worry. I know that's hard after your feed store "sexed" chicks mishap. Those were either straight run and mislabeled or sexed by an amateur who watched a couple of You Tube videos and thought they knew what they were doing. I'd complain to the manager (if you haven't already.

 

[debid]

Chicknnugget, the tail makes me nervous. Everything else looks pullet to me. Red is only masculine if it shows in the form of wing bars. Pullets can have red as part of the overall pattern. Theirs is often a brown-red or peach but deep red is possible too.

 

[debid]

Lablover, give the younger ones a couple of weeks. They aren't screaming cockerel yet but it's early and their patterns too muddied to say pullet with any sort of confidence.