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

[Arejaygee]

This one I’m unsure about. The patterning isn’t as even and it has bigger legs. It wouldn’t cooperate for a comb picture, but I can try to grab one later when I clean the brooder

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Oh the plot thickens! Cookie is the sweetest of the bunch without a doubt. Gets picked up no less than 5 times every time we let them out by my boys and flies up on my shoulder to hang out when I go in the run. I keep thinking that signature red on the wings will show up any minute but maybe not!

In my experience, friendly youngsters are usually cockerels... but not all cockerels are friendly.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

This one I’m unsure about. The patterning isn’t as even and it has bigger legs. It wouldn’t cooperate for a comb picture, but I can try to grab one later when I clean the brooder

I will look at these later when I'm not on the cell phone. For EEs with pea combs, that is the first best indicator when they are so young. I've had some huge pullets that were bigger than the boys, so don't always trust size. Color patterns start changing 6-7 weeks or later. You can often tell from the comb at 2-3 weeks (but not always).

 

[Arejaygee]

I will look at these later when I'm not on the cell phone. For EEs with pea combs, that is the first best indicator when they are so young. I've had some huge pullets that were bigger than the boys, so don't always trust size. Color patterns start changing 6-7 weeks or later. You can often tell from the comb at 2-3 weeks (but not always).

Thank you! I’ll definitely try to get better comb picture in a bit.

 

[Arejaygee]

Hopefully these will be better. (s)he’s NOT a cooperative model.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hopefully these will be better. (s)he’s NOT a cooperative model.

Looks male. First pic you can see the puffed up fat, raised center of the comb flanked by prominent ridges on either side. That's what people mean by "3 rows of peas."
4th pic I see the same thing.
A pullet at this age (and a few late blooming cockerels) will have a very flat comb with a narrow single low, thin ridge down the center.

Look at the pics in this post and you can see what I mean. The cockerel here is very developed, but from what I can see, yours is on the way.
Apr 24, 2020

 

[Arejaygee]

Both look male. First pic you can see the puffed up fat, raised center of the comb flanked by prominent ridges on either side. That's what people mean by "3 rows of peas."
4th pic I see the same thing.
A pullet at this age (and a few late blooming cockerels) will have a very flat comb with a narrow single low, thin ridge down the center.
Look at the pics in this post and you can see what I mean. The cockerel here is very developed, but from what I can see, yours are on they way.
Apr 24, 2020

Oh yes—I see it very clearly there. The one is starting to get some pink to it, so I figured that was going to be a cockerel. Thank you very much!

this is also very helpful for my Buff Brahmas since they’re pea combs, too. I have 5 and they’re very hard to distinguish right now. But I’m pretty sure at least 2 are roos.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Update on my two EEs in question. I know it’s still early to tell, they are 4 weeks. But us that “rooster red” coming in on the darker one? Or just that copper brown that get mistaken for red? Any new thoughts on either one at this point? I confirmed with the breeder that these two are hybrids since they hatched out of blue eggs but neither have pea combs. If either are female they will lay pinkish eggs. The darker one reminds me of a skeksis. Haha

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Update on my two EEs in question. I know it’s still early to tell, they are 4 weeks. But us that “rooster red” coming in on the darker one? Or just that copper brown that get mistaken for red? Any new thoughts on either one at this point? I confirmed with the breeder that these two are hybrids since they hatched out of blue eggs but neither have pea combs. If either are female they will lay pinkish eggs. The darker one reminds me of a skeksis. Haha
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Not too early to tell on the dark one... he's a boy! No doubt with that big red comb, and the patchy pattern with red is more confirmation.
Too soon to tell for the other. The comb seems pretty prominent, but is still a peachy pullet color. Harder for me with single combs... some are big, some are small, so hard to know if it's a pullet that will end up with a huge Leghorn sized comb or perhaps a male. Watch the feather color. If the small ticking pattern continues to come in evenly, that's a pullet sign. Without wattles, all we have to watch for is the comb and the color pattern. They all look like pullets... until they don't!
Hope you post another update.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Not too early to tell on the dark one... he's a boy! No doubt with that big red comb, and the patchy pattern with red is more confirmation.
Too soon to tell for the other. The comb seems pretty prominent, but is still a peachy pullet color. Harder for me with single combs... some are big, some are small, so hard to know if it's a pullet that will end up with a huge Leghorn sized comb or perhaps a male. Watch the feather color. If the small ticking pattern continues to come in evenly, that's a pullet sign. Without wattles, all we have to watch for is the comb and the color pattern. They all look like pullets... until they don't!
Hope you post another update.

Thank you!! I will keep posting updates! Hopefully he doesn’t turn out mean. I have no rules where I live about roosters so I can keep them but I don’t want a mean one and I’m pretty sure one of the other five is also a rooster (mystery egg possibly buff Orpington - I’ll post a picture). I’ve heard EE roosters are notorious for being overly aggressive and mean. Fingers crossed the other 3 are hens!