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

[LadyCluck77]

Thanks so much for this thread! I think it is very helpful. I hatched out two Easter Eggers about two and a half weeks ago. Both of these birds have both the same parents. One of them I suspect is male because it seems to have made a crowing sound, and he seems to be getting the orange patches on his shoulders that was mentioned in the thread, and I hope* the other is female. The lighting in the photos is not great, but you can see some orange-red coming in on the shoulders.


In this photo, you can see the two of them together (and a BSL named Tuxedo who is not an easter egger)


This other Easter Egger is mostly black and brown, but does have some gold in (her??) hackle feathers and on the chest. Does that mean that it is also a boy? What do you folks think?

 

[marycontrary14]

Ok. This one I have believed is a pullet from the get go, but now she has a shiny black tail feather. What do you all think? Still a pullet?

 

[FVRM]

She has red on her chest and the tails look like they are curving, I'm gonna say cockerel.

 

[aart]

aart, I agree with your predictions, cockerel then pullet. The pullet is still pale where the comb meets the nares. Pretty bird.

Interesting W4W about the nares being pale on the pullet.....is this true in other breeds as well?
Redness of combs seem to change.....very red one day and much paler the next.

Quote: Both my birds are 7 weeks old.....so not sure which one you mean.

 

[CVFreshEggs]

Here's our 2 bonbons. They are 5 weeks 4 days. I think one is too and one is pullet. They are a Welsummers roo x EE. Hoping for an olive Eggers.

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[polarbearpilot]

Thanks so much for this thread! I think it is very helpful. I hatched out two Easter Eggers about two and a half weeks ago. Both of these birds have both the same parents. One of them I suspect is male because it seems to have made a crowing sound, and he seems to be getting the orange patches on his shoulders that was mentioned in the thread, and I hope* the other is female. The lighting in the photos is not great, but you can see some orange-red coming in on the shoulders.


In this photo, you can see the two of them together (and a BSL named Tuxedo who is not an easter egger)


This other Easter Egger is mostly black and brown, but does have some gold in (her??) hackle feathers and on the chest. Does that mean that it is also a boy? What do you folks think?

Are these really 2 1/2 weeks old? They have a lot of feathers. The brown one is female for sure. The one with some orange coming through may be a boy. Can you post a picture of the comb?

 

[polarbearpilot]

Ok. This one I have believed is a pullet from the get go, but now she has a shiny black tail feather. What do you all think? Still a pullet?

It's a girl, 100%.

 

[polarbearpilot]

Here's our 2 bonbons. They are 5 weeks 4 days. I think one is too and one is pullet. They are a Welsummers roo x EE. Hoping for an olive Eggers.

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You are right. The one with the big red comb is a boy.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote: Not sure if it's true for other breeds, or even for all EEs for that matter. I have noticed that silver based birds, like my silver laced wyandotte had a much darker/pinker comb than the other pullet breeds of the same age. The BR and the BA were also slightly darker than gold pullets, like the EE and New Hamp. Heat and excitement cause them to pink up more. When I see a silver based EE with a pinky-red comb, I'm always hesitant about predicting unless there's another gender clue to back it up.

Not the best pic, but you can see that the SLW in the middle is more red than other pullets at the same age.


It's also an age thing. This little Serama cockerel was pinking up high on the comb and was still pale lower down. Only about 3 wks old, though. He changed quickly after that. Very masculine little guy.


Those fast developing feathers above the wings are apparently another early sign for a cockerel, for birds that have them. (This from a very experienced BYC breeder.)
This pic was taken the week before the one above.

Even before the comb developed, I could have predicted male from those little "angel wings" on the upper back.

 

[LadyCluck77]

Are these really 2 1/2 weeks old? They have a lot of feathers. The brown one is female for sure. The one with some orange coming through may be a boy. Can you post a picture of the comb?

Yes, I hatched these four chicks (only two are EE) about 2 and a half weeks ago. Thank you so much for helping me! Here is the suspected boy in profile: Sorry for the terrible lighting in that room, it's a basement room with only one light bulb.