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

[cstephens1987]

I don't think so. EEs were used to create Ameraucanas, not the other way around. The original EEs didn't have standards but they did tend to have certain traits that were preferred. Pea combs were desirable and a cushion is genetically just pea and rose rather than pea and single. If you keep the cushion adults in your breeding program, you get cushion offspring.

That doesn't seem entirely correct either. EE and Ameraucana were both derived from the same foundational stock of Auracana were they not? It's my understanding that, to put it simply, the original Easter Egger and Ameraucanas we're essentially the same until the breed standard for Ameraucana was established. Afterwards any chicken that contained the blue egg gene and does not confirm to breed standards is considered an Easter Egger. For instance you could technically have pure bred project color Ameraucana that are considered to be Easter Eggers. You could also have CCL cross that are EE too. So I was simply saying that it seems likely to me that an EE with a cushion comb would've gotten it's rose portion from a Wyandotte and it's pea portion from an Ameraucana. Maybe not first generation, just somewhere along the lines.

 

[debid]

That doesn't seem entirely correct either. EE and Ameraucana were both derived from the same foundational stock of Auracana were they not? It's my understanding that, to put it simply, the original Easter Egger and Ameraucanas we're essentially the same until the breed standard for Ameraucana was established. Afterwards any chicken that contained the blue egg gene and does not confirm to breed standards is considered an Easter Egger. For instance you could technically have pure bred project color Ameraucana that are considered to be Easter Eggers. You could also have CCL cross that are EE too. So I was simply saying that it seems likely to me that an EE with a cushion comb would've gotten it's rose portion from a Wyandotte and it's pea portion from an Ameraucana. Maybe not first generation, just somewhere along the lines.

Easter Egg chickens predate breed standards for both Araucana and Ameraucana. Yes, they all derive from the same original stock with the current Easter Eggers being the most similar to that original stock. And, they were all called Auracanas before the breed standards existed. In an effort to be clear, I'm calling them Easter Egg chickens (a term that was often used in their marketing).

My understanding is that the genetic variability of the Easter Egg chicken was great enough that outcrossing hasn't been needed. There are rumors that Leghorns were used by some hatcheries to improve production but what would be the purpose of adding in Wyandotte? It makes more sense to me that they simply didn't weed out the rose comb genes as some hatcheries have.

Now, there are backyard breeders mixing breeds and calling the results Easter Eggers. While that may be technically correct, it does cause some confusion. These crosses are not the same as what the hatcheries produce and I am certain that the hatchery where I get mine is not trying to reinvent the wheel. They simply never weeded out the rose comb genes from the stock they started with. Those genes existed in the original Easter Egg chicken just as other traits like tailless and tufted did. It's simply a matter of what they preserved by selection.

 

[grettasurfergirl]

Here's another.

• debid
• Apr 23, 2011

• debid
• Jun 15, 2011

View attachment 1792234[/QUOT

No problem. The color pattern thus far for feathers looks fairly female but the comb is a little suspect given the age.

This was as close as I could get! The comb is looking a little more pink today so I’m thinking cockerel at this point? will wait and see!

 

[grettasurfergirl]

Here's another.

• debid
• Apr 23, 2011

• debid
• Jun 15, 2011

View attachment 1792234

Thank you for posting these photos!!! That comb looks so similar to what I’m seeing too! I’ve tried to take a closer photo but not sure if it helps. It’s looking more pink today so maybe that means roo. Thank you!

 

[grettasurfergirl]

Here's another.

• debid
• Apr 23, 2011

• debid
• Jun 15, 2011

View attachment 1792234

We’re all of these in the photos as chicks pullets? Thanks!

 

[debid]

We’re all of these in the photos as chicks pullets? Thanks!

Yes, that's age progression of the same two birds. Both are female.

Here's an orange female EE I used to have (she had a more typical comb):

• debid
• Apr 23, 2011

• debid
• May 16, 2011

• debid
• Jun 15, 2011

• debid
• Oct 4, 2011

 

[JPyers]

Hi there,

I have 7 barnyard EE mixes and they have gotten big enough where I can now notice differences in the combs (about 4 weeks old). Below are some pictures of a few chicks I think might be roos, I would love to hear what people think as well! Any input is greatly appreciated Thanks in advance!

Chick #1:

Chick #2 (possibly a black australorp mix)

Thanks!!

 

[cstephens1987]

Hi there,

I have 7 barnyard EE mixes and they have gotten big enough where I can now notice differences in the combs (about 4 weeks old). Below are some pictures of a few chicks I think might be roos, I would love to hear what people think as well! Any input is greatly appreciated Thanks in advance!

Chick #1:
View attachment 1799458
View attachment 1799459

Chick #2 (possibly a black australorp mix)
View attachment 1799460
View attachment 1799462

Thanks!!

I suspect the same

 

[Clarity1210]

Thanks for keeping this thread going! I have an EE that I hope is a pullet. She’s about 12 weeks old now. Her form is so similar to my older EEs that I felt fairly certain but recently started doubting. What do you think?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

View attachment 1875581 View attachment 1875580 View attachment 1875577 Thanks for keeping this thread going! I have an EE that I hope is a pullet. She’s about 12 weeks old now. Her form is so similar to my older EEs that I felt fairly certain but recently started doubting. What do you think?

the pattern across her back and wings is a female pattern only. Males cannot sport that pattern. She is a lovely pullet.