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

[Angie16hearts]

It is too early to tell, but I'm fairly sure that this one is a pullet with a comb that dark.

Ok, 1 better then none. I'm pushing for the two black ones. I believe they are my only hope. The one that looks nothing like the others I'm getting mixed options . Crossing my fingers.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Chicken math wins again. I went to the farm store for some fertilizer and came home with 3 EE chicks. What can I say I am a sucker for EEs. So now I have to try grafting them to a broody hen, or decide to keep them on their own. I would rather have them be with a mama, if anyone has tips on getting a mama to accept chicks I am all ears. I have heard to do it at night after moving mom to a closed off area and letting her settle in to it for a day or so. My weather is 25-30 at night and 55 during the day. I have a dog crate for them to be in, should I put them in the coop with mama and where they will be able to better integrate with the flock or indoors where it is warmer? Tips or Advice Please!

My choice of broody mamas are: An EE or a Buff Orpington, both have been broody for about a month. When I kick them off the nests for treat time, the EE runs for the treats, the BO sits on the ground and scowls at me before running off. The BO also has already plucked out all tummy feathers. Both have not been mamas before. Which should I try first to be mama? Or should I test it out somehow before getting a broody used to the new crate?

I have only tried to do this once, and it didn't work. I think it really depends on the individual momma to be. Mine seemed terrified of the chicks. Kept raising herself up and trying to throw them out of the nest! Some hens are great, and will even take older chicks. All you can do is try! There are some threads with more info. Good luck!

 

[Faraday40]

Chicken math wins again. I went to the farm store for some fertilizer and came home with 3 EE chicks. What can I say I am a sucker for EEs. So now I have to try grafting them to a broody hen, or decide to keep them on their own. I would rather have them be with a mama, if anyone has tips on getting a mama to accept chicks I am all ears. I have heard to do it at night after moving mom to a closed off area and letting her settle in to it for a day or so. My weather is 25-30 at night and 55 during the day. I have a dog crate for them to be in, should I put them in the coop with mama and where they will be able to better integrate with the flock or indoors where it is warmer? Tips or Advice Please!

My choice of broody mamas are: An EE or a Buff Orpington, both have been broody for about a month. When I kick them off the nests for treat time, the EE runs for the treats, the BO sits on the ground and scowls at me before running off. The BO also has already plucked out all tummy feathers. Both have not been mamas before. Which should I try first to be mama? Or should I test it out somehow before getting a broody used to the new crate?

I had a broody EE hatch out some eggs around the same time as my incubator. (Maybe a 2 day difference.) I simply put the chicks under her & she took care of them. In this case, she was already a mom. I figured, "Chickens can't count, so what's a few more?" When her chicks ran under her wings, the incubator chicks followed. It was around 85'F outside, so if she walked away from them, no big deal. The cold is a big deal in your situation.

I've heard that some rare hens will adopt anything you give them, but many will not. Because you do not know if the hens will make good moms & they are not currently sitting on eggs, it's quite risky to give them strange chicks. I would recommend raising them in a brooder to play it safe, but perhaps someone else with more experience may have advice.

 

[cwrite]

Chicken math wins again. I went to the farm store for some fertilizer and came home with 3 EE chicks. What can I say I am a sucker for EEs. So now I have to try grafting them to a broody hen, or decide to keep them on their own. I would rather have them be with a mama, if anyone has tips on getting a mama to accept chicks I am all ears. I have heard to do it at night after moving mom to a closed off area and letting her settle in to it for a day or so. My weather is 25-30 at night and 55 during the day. I have a dog crate for them to be in, should I put them in the coop with mama and where they will be able to better integrate with the flock or indoors where it is warmer? Tips or Advice Please!

My choice of broody mamas are: An EE or a Buff Orpington, both have been broody for about a month. When I kick them off the nests for treat time, the EE runs for the treats, the BO sits on the ground and scowls at me before running off. The BO also has already plucked out all tummy feathers. Both have not been mamas before. Which should I try first to be mama? Or should I test it out somehow before getting a broody used to the new crate?

I think I'd risk introducing them at night to the BO where she is sitting so as not to disturb her. Once she has accepted the chicks and settled in, I'd move her. If you can pen a little area around her nest box that is even better. I've never actually tried this but I had two broodies and gave eggs to one. I kept them in the run, but fenced off from the big girls. They were three weeks old when I let them free range and my other broody tried to steal a few chicks by making the tidbitting noise. It's worth a go, just keep an eye on her for a while.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Chicken math wins again. I went to the farm store for some fertilizer and came home with 3 EE chicks. What can I say I am a sucker for EEs. So now I have to try grafting them to a broody hen, or decide to keep them on their own. I would rather have them be with a mama, if anyone has tips on getting a mama to accept chicks I am all ears. I have heard to do it at night after moving mom to a closed off area and letting her settle in to it for a day or so. My weather is 25-30 at night and 55 during the day. I have a dog crate for them to be in, should I put them in the coop with mama and where they will be able to better integrate with the flock or indoors where it is warmer? Tips or Advice Please!

My choice of broody mamas are: An EE or a Buff Orpington, both have been broody for about a month. When I kick them off the nests for treat time, the EE runs for the treats, the BO sits on the ground and scowls at me before running off. The BO also has already plucked out all tummy feathers. Both have not been mamas before. Which should I try first to be mama? Or should I test it out somehow before getting a broody used to the new crate?

It definitely depends on the hen. I've never done it myself, but you might be able to find some good advice here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/496101/broody-hen-thread/7370

 

[KrystalRose]

Ok, my 3 EE chicks are officially adopted. Here are pictures. They are supposed to be all pullets, but if anyone thinks I have a boy let me know. Although at 1 week old it is a little early to tell yet I think. I'm still deciding on names, so right now they are light, medium, and dark.


Light and Medium

Dark and Light (Don't you love mom's expression!)

 

[cwrite]

Well done on getting them adopted KrystalRose! They are too gorgeous.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Good mama hen! The chicks are adorable. You got some pretty ones!

 

[TripMomma]

My EE is almost 5 weeks, can anyone tell me if she is indeed a female?

She is the one behind my barred rock...then the one on the far left in the group pic.

 

[LadyCluck77]

My EE is almost 5 weeks, can anyone tell me if she is indeed a female?

She is the one behind my barred rock...then the one on the far left in the group pic.

This one's tricky. I see some red on the back, but a fairly even back pattern, also more of a salmon color on the chest. I'd like to see a good close up of the comb.
BTW- I am very jealous of your green grass! We still have several feet of snow right now.