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

[Mablethechicken]

I think 2 roosters and 4 hens would lead to a LOT of overbreeding of the hens.

Ok so here’s an EE question for the experts...I’m thinking I would like to try and have two separate flocks (assuming I can convince my husband to get another coop and run) and get some EE pullets for my EE rooster. But since he didn’t get the peacomb gene himself is it still possible for him to produce blue egg laying offspring off paired with true pea combed EE hens? Could he still be carrying it and pass it on?
I’m asking because I wonder if it’s worth getting only EE pullets. If I can’t get blue laying chicks from him maybe it’s better to just get a mix since they won’t be true EEs anyway.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Ok so here’s an EE question for the experts...I’m thinking I would like to try and have two separate flocks (assuming I can convince my husband to get another coop and run) and get some EE pullets for my EE rooster. But since he didn’t get the peacomb gene himself is it still possible for him to produce blue egg laying offspring off paired with true pea combed EE hens? Could he still be carrying it and pass it on?
I’m asking because I wonder if it’s worth getting only EE pullets. If I can’t get blue laying chicks from him maybe it’s better to just get a mix since they won’t be true EEs anyway.

Short answer... most likely your rooster does not have the gene for blue eggs. There is a slim chance he does, but no way to be 100% sure until you breed him. UNLESS, he was bred from a breed where the gene for blue shells has been isolated from the pea comb gene, like a cream legbar.

The gene for blue eggs colors the shell. Shells are either white or blue. Your EE rooster probably doesn't have the gene for blue shells but your hens probably do. Offspring from them will get one blue gene from mom, so the shells will be paler blue than if they had genes from both parents. If mom herself only has one blue gene, there is a chance some offspring will have white shells.

Here's the catch, there are other genes that control egg color. While the shells are either white or blue, other pigments can be added to the outside of the shell during egg production. The amount of tan or brown pigment depends on the hen (some don't have any at all), and when the tan/brown gets applied over a white shell, you can get anything from pale cream to chocolate brown eggs. If she has a blue shell, the brownish overcoat makes green, olive, grey, kahki... So the best blue egg layers have 2 genes for blue shells and no or very little pigment added to the outside.

If you want guaranteed blue eggs, find a breeder of true Ameraucanas or Cream Legbars and buy hatching eggs or chicks. I myself, love hatchery EEs. Mine have been healthy and hearty and lay a generous amount of eggs... but no guarantee the eggs will be blue. My 8 yr old EE hen still lays eggs 3x a week, but they are green. Kind of a dull grayish green at that, but I wouldn't trade her.

Oh, and if you buy hatchery EE pullets, there is a good chance you will get another cockerel! They seem to be harder to sex than other breeds.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Short answer... most likely your rooster does not have the gene for blue eggs. There is a slim chance he does, but no way to be 100% sure until you breed him. UNLESS, he was bred from a breed where the gene for blue shells has been isolated from the pea comb gene, like a cream legbar.

The gene for blue eggs colors the shell. Shells are either white or blue. Your EE rooster probably doesn't have the gene for blue shells but your hens probably do. Offspring from them will get one blue gene from mom, so the shells will be paler blue than if they had genes from both parents. If mom herself only has one blue gene, there is a chance some offspring will have white shells.

Here's the catch, there are other genes that control egg color. While the shells are either white or blue, other pigments can be added to the outside of the shell during egg production. The amount of tan or brown pigment depends on the hen (some don't have any at all), and when the tan/brown gets applied over a white shell, you can get anything from pale cream to chocolate brown eggs. If she has a blue shell, the brownish overcoat makes green, olive, grey, kahki... So the best blue egg layers have 2 genes for blue shells and no or very little pigment added to the outside.

If you want guaranteed blue eggs, find a breeder of true Ameraucanas or Cream Legbars and buy hatching eggs or chicks. I myself, love hatchery EEs. Mine have been healthy and hearty and lay a generous amount of eggs... but no guarantee the eggs will be blue. My 8 yr old EE hen still lays eggs 3x a week, but they are green. Kind of a dull grayish green at that, but I wouldn't trade her.

Oh, and if you buy hatchery EE pullets, there is a good chance you will get another cockerel! They seem to be harder to sex than other breeds.

Thank you! This is really helpful. For me, as long as the birds are healthy and laying any color egg I’m happy. But I am hoping to get into selling (locally) straight run chicks and thought EEs might be the way to go since in order to keep him I’ll need to get more hens anyway. I thought I would get an additional coop and run and let them free range on alternating days from the other flock. I just want to ensure I’m not misleading anyone by calling them EEs with the rooster being a cross and no chance of blue eggs. I know technically EEs could lay any number of colors but I feel like people assume blue when they buy an EE. Could I still advertise the chicks as EEs if I bred him with true EE hens?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Thank you! This is really helpful. For me, as long as the birds are healthy and laying any color egg I’m happy. But I am hoping to get into selling (locally) straight run chicks and thought EEs might be the way to go since in order to keep him I’ll need to get more hens anyway. I thought I would get an additional coop and run and let them free range on alternating days from the other flock. I just want to ensure I’m not misleading anyone by calling them EEs with the rooster being a cross and no chance of blue eggs. I know technically EEs could lay any number of colors but I feel like people assume blue when they buy an EE. Could I still advertise the chicks as EEs if I bred him with true EE hens?

EE means different things to different people. As long as you are honest, no one should complain (but they probably will! ). I suggest checking out the market for chicks in your area. Lot of people want straight run prices with a return policy on cockerels.

 

[Heymejack]

Hen or roo? I’m thinking roo by the reds,

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hen or roo? I’m thinking roo by the reds,
View attachment 2207939

Comb looks male also.

 

[bruceha2000]

Oh, and if you buy hatchery EE pullets, there is a good chance you will get another cockerel! They seem to be harder to sex than other breeds.

I have fortunately not had that happen with the total of 8 I've gotten.

I know technically EEs could lay any number of colors but I feel like people assume blue when they buy an EE.

They should NOT assume blue. The odds are good that they will be some shade of green but could also be blue.

 

[Mablethechicken]

I have fortunately not had that happen with the total of 8 I've gotten.


They should NOT assume blue. The odds are good that they will be some shade of green but could also be blue.

Apologies for the confusion! I meant some form of blue/green. My concern being that if they get an EE hen that lays pink or tinted eggs they would be disappointed and cry “fowl.”
Sorry! I know that was a terrible joke. I couldn’t help myself had to do it!

 

[bruceha2000]

That is something people need to know ... that EEs will USUALLY lay bluish to green but they CAN lay shades of tan, possibly pink? I don't think they will lay white. Though I suppose if a single blue gene hen is paired with a white layer, the odds are that the eggs of their pullet offspring will be blue or white, mostly white.

I have an EE that lays various shades depending on the mood of her "colorizer". Sometimes they are bluish green, sometimes grayish & somewhat mottled.

If you want to GUARANTEE blue or green eggs, I think you need to have a pure Ameraucana hen in the cross unless you have an EE hen that lays blue and you've done enough breeding tests to know that she is double blue because her pullets always lay blue or green.

 

[Mablethechicken]

That is something people need to know ... that EEs will USUALLY lay bluish to green but they CAN lay shades of tan, possibly pink? I don't think they will lay white. Though I suppose if a single blue gene hen is paired with a white layer, the odds are that the eggs of their pullet offspring will be blue or white, mostly white.

I have an EE that lays various shades depending on the mood of her "colorizer". Sometimes they are bluish green, sometimes grayish & somewhat mottled.

If you want to GUARANTEE blue or green eggs, I think you need to have a pure Ameraucana hen in the cross unless you have an EE hen that lays blue and you've done enough breeding tests to know that she is double blue because her pullets always lay blue or green.

Thank you! Just wanted to make sure if I sell EEs that don’t all lay blue/green I won’t be hung for treason or labeled as a false advertiser.