Is 6 weeks too early to tell the sex of Easter Eggers?

AussieSuze

Chirping
Oct 22, 2020
22
39
81
Adelaide, South Australia
Hi Everyone,

I hatched what I was told were Easter Eggers 6 weeks ago. Out of the 6 chicks, I’m starting to think that I have 5 cockerels. The 2 grey chickens have pea combs, and both have started attempting to crow. The first black chicken and the white chicken behave like cockerels, with lots of chest bumping. In fact they draw blood whenever they are together. From what I’ve read the brown chicken‘s feather patterning is more male than female, despite being quite submissive. However, these assumptions come from what I’ve read, not from experience because these are my first ever chickens. So I’d love some feedback from experts, please.
Also, I read that EE don’t have feathered legs, but the 2 grey chickens and the brown chicken have feathered legs. They hatched from green eggs, and I was told they were EE, thoughts?

Thank you!

Chicken 1 (First that start to crow, very friendly, Pea comb that has gotten quite pink in the last week)
DF587969-7EF4-436F-B639-D8FEAEBC0A33.jpeg 91CF7250-7F34-49F0-A2AC-293F73E1A872.jpeg 2872D8E9-A536-4E52-B6AE-924B0B6C10FF.jpeg

Chicken 2 (Very upright stance)
9CF0E6FE-0B2F-41D4-B1DB-FAD4C8B69B6F.jpeg A75601C9-0824-49AF-8148-F9EEA5A3DEA3.jpeg

Chicken 3 ( Is quite aggressive to the white chicken, has drawn blood every time we try to reintroduce them)
796D35C1-4884-4797-8E89-65DEF6216F1D.jpeg 48B40BC4-8400-404A-821E-DCBDADE4B863.jpeg

Chicken 4 (Quite submissive, loves being held, would love it to be a pullet)
7464C2A9-23DD-4DEF-ACA6-F94AE3CF02A9.jpeg 001E6E27-27CA-4EA8-927A-645519718EAB.jpeg F014D67E-13FA-4347-A008-70CEF922AA96.jpeg

Chicken 5 (Top of the pecking order, has started to crow, has had a large pea comb for about a month.)
63EDF374-3F60-455B-88F2-6630F58CECBB.jpeg 47A87D97-C5AF-4FD8-819D-3A7899B0FCBB.jpeg

Chicken 6 (Alas, the only one I think may be a pullet, very submissive, loves being carried around, the only chicken that doesn’t call for the others if she is separated from them)
6D19718E-8A97-4CD1-806A-533CF690116F.jpeg F5010AFC-0956-4D89-8A09-DD6EEBB6C0B0.jpeg
 
#6 is the only one I'd consider a pullet.

Easter Eggers themselves are not a breed, they're simply a collection of chickens who have been bred to produce blue or green eggs of any shade. The feathered legs are passed along from breeds like Marans, Brahmas and others. It's the 'true Ameraucanas" that would have to meet a standard - EEs are mutts --- I proudly have dozens of them, they are the best!

The darker brown one ... could maybe be female, but I'd wouldn't bet on it. Sorry your first go resorted in so many boys!!! You'll need to get a couple/few friends for your pullet who are definitely female because when the males start looking for someone to practice their hormone activities on- it will be her and it will be miserable for her. They will be 'ready' before she is - and that's no life for a pullet!

If you're permitted to have roosters and want to keep one, I would suggest picking one that you like- if you are interested in making green/blue eggs, choose one with a pea comb, not a straight comb. Pea combs (not 100% but it's strongly related) tend to indicate blue/green egg genes. The ones prone to fighting --- would have a home in someone's tummy ... that's not a trait you'd want to pass on should you ever decide to hatch your own eggs. I would aim for no fewer than 5 girls with one roo - or if you intend to just keep girls, a minimum of three total pullets.

Or you could have a 'bachelor flock' - some keep all their boys separate in their own area. Roosters that get along are completely possible. I have several full grown roosters and a handful of juvenile roosters that all get along- but I've also got a lot of space and a LOT of hens- so it is indeed possible to have multiple roos that do just fine together. Anyone that doesn't want to get along - doesn't have a place in the flock.
 
How sad to have no/one or max 2 pullets.

Great answer by Shezadandy.
I was typing ... EE are bot a real breed. And these are general things to distinguish chicken sexes. : Pointy feathers, starting to crow and combs that start to get red big/red all indicate cockerel. And the behaviour you describe is not very girlish either.

Good advice to seperate all the ‘cockerels for sure’ and buy a couple of pullets of about the same age if you can. Don’t add newborn to this flock.
 

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