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

[jsroberts]

Thanks to whoever bumped this thread - it never came up in my searches and has been pretty useful at explaining some of the stuff I had questions about.

do you guys have any idea about these? I’m expecting #1 to be a cockerel, but this is our first year raising EEs (while knowing they’re EEs anyway).

sorry if the images look janky - posting from a phone.

#1 and #2 should be 7-8 weeks, #3 is likely 8+ but not sure.

#1:

#2:

#3: cockerel, right? I’m like 90% sure those are saddle feathers?

 

[bruceha2000]

I agree the first one is a cockerel, based on the comb and the uneven feather patterning. I would guess the other 2 to be pullets. I have 2 that look like your #3. Many of my EEs have had early rounded fluffy "saddle" feathers, they have all been pullets. Plus, I think 8 weeks is too early for actual rooster saddle feathers.

 

[Harmoni]

Ugh. I'm leaning towards 3 of the 4 being roos. What crappy luck out of a pullet bin. Chipmunks comb is starting to pink up
But I have a broody RIR so I am going to look for hatching eggs locally and I guess start over once I can confirm.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Thanks to whoever bumped this thread - it never came up in my searches and has been pretty useful at explaining some of the stuff I had questions about.

do you guys have any idea about these? I’m expecting #1 to be a cockerel, but this is our first year raising EEs (while knowing they’re EEs anyway).

sorry if the images look janky - posting from a phone.

#1 and #2 should be 7-8 weeks, #3 is likely 8+ but not sure.

#1:
View attachment 2594748
View attachment 2594749

#2: View attachment 2594752

#3: cockerel, right? I’m like 90% sure those are saddle feathers?

View attachment 2594754

#3 is a pullet. A cockerel with this coloring would have white wing patches. Probably too early for saddle feathers.

The other two are cockerels. Both have very patchy coloring. Compare to the small, even pullet patterning on #3.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Ugh. I'm leaning towards 3 of the 4 being roos. What crappy luck out of a pullet bin. Chipmunks comb is starting to pink up
But I have a broody RIR so I am going to look for hatching eggs locally and I guess start over once I can confirm.

Please post updated pictures. They do a lot of changing at this age, so it can get confusing. If they truly are sexed pullets as advertised, the chances of 3 males is slim.
It helps us learn how to identify the early signs, so please post some updates soon.
Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[Harmoni]

Please post updated pictures. They do a lot of changing at this age, so it can get confusing. If they truly are sexed pullets as advertised, the chances of 3 males is slim.
It helps us learn how to identify the early signs, so please post some updates soon.
Keeping fingers crossed.

I will take new pics tomorrow!

 

[jsroberts]

Thanks all. That's very helpful. #1 is a complete love and we're definitely keeping him. He's my cuddle buddy. I'm thrilled that #3 sounds like a pullet. Love the coloring on that one.

 

[Harmoni]

Please post updated pictures. They do a lot of changing at this age, so it can get confusing. If they truly are sexed pullets as advertised, the chances of 3 males is slim.
It helps us learn how to identify the early signs, so please post some updates soon.
Keeping fingers crossed.

Grumpy is the only one I am convinced is a pullet. Chipmunks comb is pinker than Goldie's.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Grumpy is the only one I am convinced is a pullet. Chipmunks comb is pinker than Goldie's.

Chicks develop at different rates. The male traits in an EE are usually obvious by 8 weeks. If a male trait shows up earlier (like Goldie's black breast) it just means that the other things, like his comb, are still developing.

For hatchery EEs, you can often sex by comb shape at an early age, but I use it more to confirm other traits I am seeing, like feather coloring. If the colors on the wings look splotchy or in patches, especially red patches, it's probably a male. Comb shape can confirm that.

I'm quoting some old posts below so you can see the difference between male and female combs. You can often tell a male comb before it begins to turn pink. I added explanations within the quotes. Click on the quotes to see.

Ok so I read every post here and now I am a little worried about one of these 6 week olds... I was sold these as Araucanas but I think they are EEs
I hope one is a girl. I think the brown one is. But the other has me worried.
This is Cleopatra

Brown chick is a pullet... no splotchy patterns and narrow low ridge down the center of her comb.

This is Rosebud

White chick is cockerel... comb has 3 lumpy ridges and is already pink at 6 weeks.

TIA

Hey there! No idea what I'm doing, but after combing this thread... I am pretty sure I have a Roo.... or two! Hopefully not. I have a scissor beaker (spare me the sad stories, puh-lease!) and we adore her, so I'm basically injecting food into her. She's going to do great! Anyway... here are my Eastery Kids hatched around July 3rd...

Patchy male color on the left. Even pullet color on right.

pullet comb- single narrow ridge

cockerel has 3 lumpy ridges

I am new to this thread. But I have been reading it for about 2 weeks. It took me that long to read this very
long thread and it has been very helpful and insightful.

I got two EE's that were sexed. I suspect that one is a roo. I was wondering what all of you thought.
They were born on 8/4/2011 and that makes them 5 weeks old in these pictures taken today, 9/8/2011.
Names are Hoho and Twinkie. Hoho seemed to show some boyish tendencies around 3 weeks. The comb
turned into a triple row (which I know is not 100% a boy) but the comb turning red is my biggest concern.
She/he has no red/brown feathers on the shoulder. She/he also seems slimmer than Twinkie. She/he does
not seem to have a rooish stance but I am not expert so maybe she/he does and I don't know it. Both
chickens are squirmish when I pick them up.


Here are the pictures of Hoho
cockerel- lumpy comb and patches of color

Here is Twinkie
no obvious male coloring yet, but her comb shows a pullet

Their tails are also very different

Both of them

Boy or girl?

Compare these to your chicks and you will probably be able to sex them yourself. I cannot see combs clearly enough in your pics to do it online.
Any doubts, wait a week and post again. I really hope you keep us updated. I want to see how they turn out.

 

[Harmoni]

What do you need a better picture of? The combs? Based on those pictures, I am really leaning towards 3 roos.