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

[polarbearpilot]

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.

The light washed out the comb, but I could see the color of the neck feathers. That's a typical boy color. I'd watch for more red patches coming through and comb getting bigger and redder. It'll start looking very different from the pullet. If you don't see these changes in the next few weeks, please post an updated picture so we can take another look at him/her.

 

[polarbearpilot]

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.

Very cute little guy. Do you know what other types of breeds have those angel wings?

 

[debid]

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?

100% pullet. That's a female-only pattern.

 

[debid]

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?

Looks orange to me. And no, gold in the neck doesn't = male. You'll need to wait a couple weeks for the feathering to finish but there is nothing cockerel showing yet.

 

[debid]

Very cute little guy. Do you know what other types of breeds have those angel wings?

It's an awkward feathering stage, not breed-specific. And, no disrespect intended, there are lots and lots of pullet chicks that have feathers sticking out a bit at some point in the feathering process. I've seen this same "angel" look in my pullet chicks. Nothing masculine about it.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote:
That's good to know. (And no disrespect taken. It's all about learning for me.

) The original discussion was about feather sexing newly hatched chicks, and someone added that the early developing line of feathers up high on the shoulder was a more accurate indicator when they're present. Several examples were shown, but the only one I can remember was a frizzled chick. It was on a very fast moving local thread with a gazillion posts, and my memory is rather sieve-like these days. Seems like the only rule that holds true for chickens is that there are exceptions to every rule.

And I'm sure there is an exception to that as well.

 

[chickydoos]

Okay here are my first 3 Easter eggers!!! I am over the moon in love with them but have a more than sneaking suspicion there are 2 Roos in the group. I am hoping you can help not break my heart!

Sorry to say but you have two roos. The black and white one is def a roo. And the Brown one with red patches on its wings also is a roo. The third one is a hen. I the black and white one looks like he is gonna be a very pretty roo tho!

 

[Tappy4me]

Posting again over here, since it's been a bit and the chicks have grown. The EEs are roughly 6 weeks old now.



All together. L-> R, Reese, Fearless, No name, No name, ? Rooster, and in front of them, not visible, is the other one.



For individual pics of everyone...

No name, ? Roo





No name, Pullet?



No name, Pullet?


Fearless, Pullet


Reese, Pullet

No name, ? Roo

 

[chickydoos]

Posting again over here, since it's been a bit and the chicks have grown. The EEs are roughly 6 weeks old now. All together. L-> R, Reese, Fearless, No name, No name, ? Rooster, and in front of them, not visible, is the other one. For individual pics of everyone... No name, ? Roo No name, Pullet? No name, Pullet? Fearless, Pullet Reese, Pullet No name, ? Roo

I think you are exactly right on your guesses. All have the pattern of pullets... With that three row pea comb on the black and white one suggests roo. But I would have expected it to be a little more red by that age... May be just the lighting though.

 

[Tappy4me]

I think you are exactly right on your guesses. All have the pattern of pullets... With that three row pea comb on the black and white one suggests roo. But I would have expected it to be a little more red by that age... May be just the lighting though.

Thanks!

His is a tad more pink than the others, but not red yet. The gold one, that I'm also suspecting could be a roo, has no red on the comb at all. 3 of the 6 actually have 3 row peacombs, but the black and white one's is much more pronounced, and broader.

I had read that sometimes they don't always get very red until 8-10 weeks of age?