I've seen lots of EE sexing help posts recently, so I know it's not just me. Usually I'm very good at distinguishing pullets from cockerels early on, but two out of three of my easter egger chicks really have me confused (and nervous). They are "supposed" to be pullets (from MPC/Meyer), and are 5 weeks old. Maybe you color experts can help????
1) Nobody's legs are any thicker/thinner than the others - they all look thickish compared to my two non EE chicks.
2) All have very horizontal body lines when they run around and or just perch somewhere.
3) All feathered out very quickly.
4) I only see a center row of peas/ridge looking stuff at this point, not three rows. But maybe the three rows pop up later??
BUT two of them have off and on pinkish/orange brightness to their combs, and I think that's a BAD thing. Sometimes their combs look "normal" and other times they really stand out (kind of like Rudolf's nose going on and off, although not quite that bright lol). The third EE chick has a plain ole (safe) yellowish colored comb all the time.
Based on my reading, I think at least Molly's coloring indicates pullet (rather plain brown/ tan w/salmon breast). Xena has me a little more worried, because her feathers look very pretty, bright to me, which makes me think cockerel. But again, the sometimes bright combs are what's really worrying me about both these two.
Here's Autumn, whom I'm 99.9% sure is a pullet. Her comb looks plain old yellow. She's my largest EE chick. Coloring, comb, everything screams pullet:
Here's Molly, my plainest looking EE chick at this point, color seems safe, but the comb sometimes turns bright:
Here's Xena, my favorite, her coloring worries me, plus that on/off baby aspirin comb color. She's the smallest of my EEs:
Xena w/safe Autumn
No good shots of their combs, but all (so far) have single peas/ridge through the center... Thanks for your input!
1) Nobody's legs are any thicker/thinner than the others - they all look thickish compared to my two non EE chicks.
2) All have very horizontal body lines when they run around and or just perch somewhere.
3) All feathered out very quickly.
4) I only see a center row of peas/ridge looking stuff at this point, not three rows. But maybe the three rows pop up later??
BUT two of them have off and on pinkish/orange brightness to their combs, and I think that's a BAD thing. Sometimes their combs look "normal" and other times they really stand out (kind of like Rudolf's nose going on and off, although not quite that bright lol). The third EE chick has a plain ole (safe) yellowish colored comb all the time.
Based on my reading, I think at least Molly's coloring indicates pullet (rather plain brown/ tan w/salmon breast). Xena has me a little more worried, because her feathers look very pretty, bright to me, which makes me think cockerel. But again, the sometimes bright combs are what's really worrying me about both these two.
Here's Autumn, whom I'm 99.9% sure is a pullet. Her comb looks plain old yellow. She's my largest EE chick. Coloring, comb, everything screams pullet:
Here's Molly, my plainest looking EE chick at this point, color seems safe, but the comb sometimes turns bright:
Here's Xena, my favorite, her coloring worries me, plus that on/off baby aspirin comb color. She's the smallest of my EEs:
Xena w/safe Autumn
No good shots of their combs, but all (so far) have single peas/ridge through the center... Thanks for your input!
!
