Hoover's (Tractor Supply) Straight Run Easter Eggers-- mostly roos?

[Sammster]

Most male chicks are killed at the hatchery. For straight run chicks they usually don’t sex them at all.

I know they kill a lot of males. But, it doesn't make sense to me that they kill them all, if they can just add some to the straight run group. Just a theory

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I consider the bearded Easter eggers to be “typical” EEs, while the newer unbearded ones are legbar mix EEs. Using americana to mean EE can be misleading.

Yup, but that’s how Hoovers rolls .

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

From what I read, all pea combs will eventually have 3 rows, but it is more subtle and shows up later on most pullets. So it is a clue to inform an educated guess, not definitive…like seeing them lay an egg .

I have NEVER seen a pullet with rust or orange colored shoulder patches though. So that is very definitive in my opinion.

 

[FunClucks]

For your last one, is the comb yellow or pink? How big is it compared to the others? Does the chick have any melanistic red on its shoulders?

I couldn't see melanistic red, and you said the comb was pale (can't tell from the picture). I think this one could be a pullet, or a slower developing cockerel. The rest are for sure males. Sorry.

Maybe post the last one again in 8 weeks, with a brother for comparison.

 

[DavidReaves]

For your last one, is the comb yellow or pink? How big is it compared to the others? Does the chick have any melanistic red on its shoulders?

I couldn't see melanistic red, and you said the comb was pale (can't tell from the picture). I think this one could be a pullet, or a slower developing cockerel. The rest are for sure males. Sorry.

Maybe post the last one again in 8 weeks, with a brother for comparison.

I'll keep for a few more weeks to give them a better chance to develop. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a pullet or two after all.

 

[Iluveggers]

I’m sorry David, I hope you do end up with a few females. Was the tub full of chicks or picked over when you got there? I’ve heard some tricks for increasing chances of females with EE, something about dark continual stripe for pullets and lighter colors with a break in the stripe for males. Wonder if someone got there and took a lot of the ones that had female patterns before you got yours?

 

[DavidReaves]

I’m sorry David, I hope you do end up with a few females. Was the tub full of chicks or picked over when you got there? I’ve heard some tricks for increasing chances of females with EE, something about dark continual stripe for pullets and lighter colors with a break in the stripe for males. Wonder if someone got there and took a lot of the ones that had female patterns before you got yours?

They weren't picked over, I was one of the first there when they opened the chicks. I just had the TSC guy pick six random chicks. Maybe just bad luck.

 

[Coop-de-doop]

I got six straight run Easter Eggers at Tractor Supply six weeks ago. I'm afraid the luck of the draw was against me, though. Five of the six look very similar in coloring and pattern. One is a bit different. I've included photos below. My suspicion is that 5/6 are cockerels. It is a bit harder to tell with the pea combs. Last year I could easily identify all the single comb chicks just based on the comb development.

I have a group photo, then a photo of the heads of each chick.

View attachment 3468677

This is the one I suspect is a pullet, based on different feather pattern and no comb color at all.

View attachment 3468683

I'm fairly certain this is a cockerel, based on the early comb color.

View attachment 3468685

This one also has strong color. He was fairly active, so is out of focus-- even so, comb color is very noticeable.

View attachment 3468687

The color isn't as strong on this one, and bad focus doesn't help, but comb is noticeably red and feather pattern is like others that are more strongly red.

View attachment 3468703

This is the last one, it's comb isn't red, but it does have the same feather pattern/colors as the others that seem to be roos.

View attachment 3468706

So, what do you think? Do I have 5 males and 1 female? Or is there hope that some of the others are female, too?

I only see one that might be a pullet.

 

[Brittbee]

Not an expert, but I think you may have two which are marked as follows:

I had two Easter Eggers last year that developed some comb by 5 weeks so you may stoll have a chance.