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

[dan26552]

1, 2, 3, 5 are all cockerels. Can't see 7's body.

Thanks I was thinking about the same. I'll get a better picture of 7 tomorrow or later depending of if its still raining.

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

How old are they? I'm still trying to learn. I have 2 Easter Eggers currently. Started with 6, but 4 were roos and I had to return them to the breeder. Does 3 rows on the comb ALWAYS mean cockerel?

 

[junebuggena]

How old are they? I'm still trying to learn. I have 2 Easter Eggers currently. Started with 6, but 4 were roos and I had to return them to the breeder. Does 3 rows on the comb ALWAYS mean cockerel?

Not always, but usually. With Easter Eggers, it's usually a combination of factors that add up to cockerel or pullet. Three, clearly developed rows and bright pink by 10 weeks old means cockerel. Most cockerels also get a particular shade of deep red on the shoulders/wings by about 8 weeks.
Take a look through some of the photos and look for those traits. You'll get pretty good at spotting the boys, just by looking through previous posts.

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

Thanks! My 6 week old Easter Egger has a very small, single row yellow comb. I have another I am hoping is a pullet that is nearly 4 weeks but the comb is wider. The middle row is largest but there appears to be rows on either side too. No red yet.

 

[dan26552]

How old are they? I'm still trying to learn. I have 2 Easter Eggers currently. Started with 6, but 4 were roos and I had to return them to the breeder. Does 3 rows on the comb ALWAYS mean cockerel?

Almost 11 weeks

 

[mymilliefleur]

Does 3 rows on the comb ALWAYS mean cockerel?

No, not always. Cockerels almost always have 3 rows, and pullets usually have 1 row. Last year I hatched out 20 EE chicks, and kept track of who had 3 rows, and who had 1. I ended up with a nice 50/50 split, 10 cockerels and 10 pullets. 90% of the cockerels had 3 row combs, 1% did not. Of the pullets 50% had 3 row combs and 50% did not.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I'm pretty sure #2 #3 #5 and possibly #7 are roos but I like hearing other peoples opinions.

#1

Comb is already very red, looks like a Cockerel
#2

Cockerel
#3


Cockerel
#4


Pullet
#5
Cockerel (He will be stunning when he is full grown!)

#6




Pullet
#7


Cockerel
#8


This is a tricky one, it looks to be a pullet, but it's comb is already reddening up, so I'm going with cockerel. However, it could be a early maturing pullet.
#9


Pullet




#1
Cockerel

 

[ICB42]

No, not always. Cockerels almost always have 3 rows, and pullets usually have 1 row. Last year I hatched out 20 EE chicks, and kept track of who had 3 rows, and who had 1. I ended up with a nice 50/50 split, 10 cockerels and 10 pullets. 90% of the cockerels had 3 row combs, 1% did not. Of the pullets 50% had 3 row combs and 50% did not.

What do you mean by 3 rows? Because I'm trying to keep track of mine to see how many roosters I have! Thank you!!!

 

[MedSchlFarmers]

That's good to know and makes sense. I have or have had 6 EE this year (building my first flock) and only one has a tiny single row pea comb (6 weeks old). That give me hope for the other one I still have (almost 4 weeks old). The other 4 boys are back with the breeder.

Here is my 6 week pullet "Lady Liberty" (or at least I'm fairly certain she is a she)

 

[mymilliefleur]

What do you mean by 3 rows? Because I'm trying to keep track of mine to see how many roosters I have! Thank you!!!

''Three rows'' means they have three rows of ''peas'' (little bumps) on their combs. Take a look at this cockerel below, note how he has a wide three rowed comb:


This chick is young, after they are a few weeks old the rows become very well defined. Chicks that have 1 row, will only have one skinny ridge. Like I implied in my other post, this is not a super accurate way to sex, as pullets can, and will get three rowed combs as well.