Sexing almost 6wk old Easter Eggers

[Dottie the Chicken]

Both appear as they could be cockerels... especially the second one, plus the first one's coloring looks cockerelish to me.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Those combs are large and red, both are most likely cockerels.
As first year chicken owners, with only hatchmates for them, it may be best to move them on, and have no cock birds this year. I agree that 'friendly' often means 'bold' and turns into cockerels who have no respect and will try to dominate you when those hormones hit.
Here we prefer cockerels who avoid contact, and spend their time interacting with their flockmates, not humans.
Also, cockerels raised with adult hens and roosters learn to be more socially adept (eating humble pie often!) rather than only having age mates to push around.
And you will be more experience at reading their body language next year...
Post more pictures a bit later, full body shots. And enjoy your cute birds!
Mary

 

[Edsapjkr04]

Welcome!
Those combs are large and red, both are most likely cockerels.
As first year chicken owners, with only hatchmates for them, it may be best to move them on, and have no cock birds this year. I agree that 'friendly' often means 'bold' and turns into cockerels who have no respect and will try to dominate you when those hormones hit.
Here we prefer cockerels who avoid contact, and spend their time interacting with their flockmates, not humans.
Also, cockerels raised with adult hens and roosters learn to be more socially adept (eating humble pie often!) rather than only having age mates to push around.
And you will be more experience at reading their body language next year...
Post more pictures a bit later, full body shots. And enjoy your cute birds!
Mary

Mary!! The 2nd one I think we confirmed is for sure. We went and saw them this morning and it was making some very loud Rooster like noises and really puffing out it's feathers more.

Welcome!
Those combs are large and red, both are most likely cockerels.
As first year chicken owners, with only hatchmates for them, it may be best to move them on, and have no cock birds this year. I agree that 'friendly' often means 'bold' and turns into cockerels who have no respect and will try to dominate you when those hormones hit.
Here we prefer cockerels who avoid contact, and spend their time interacting with their flockmates, not humans.
Also, cockerels raised with adult hens and roosters learn to be more socially adept (eating humble pie often!) rather than only having age mates to push around.
And you will be more experience at reading their body language next year...
Post more pictures a bit later, full body shots. And enjoy your cute birds!
Mary

Hi Mary thank you for your help! We went and saw our flock this morning and I think we are for sure that the 2nd all grey one is definitely a Rooster now. It was making some very loud for lack of a better term "Rooster like" noises. In addition to showing off more and puffing his feathers. Our daughter will be bummed since these 2 EE were some of her favorites but I agree and understand what you are saying with them! I will post more pictures and body pictures of them in a week or so! I appreciate all the help!!

 

[ladybrasa]

Yeah, probably boys. Personally I would wait til about 3 months to see gender-specific saddle feathers, but for me their fate is the freezer, if boys, so I want to be super duper sure. There have been occasions were red-combed “boyish” looking chicks end up female. Even rare cases of girls making crow like noises, and girls will face up each other sometimes for establishing pecking order.

Also yes, in my limited experience, many of the “friendlier” or bolder or most curious or less fearful chicks seemed to have turned out to be boys, but not exclusively!

As for fertilized eggs, as long as they are collected daily (as all eggs should) and stored in the fridge or at least a cool location, they’re the same as unfertilized. That extra bit of DNA or few cells are minuscule. Now, if you left a fertilized egg in the nest for a few days or in warm temps, then you might not want to crack that open ... I’ve heard that selling fertilized eggs is actually a niche market as some folks think they have more health benefits or nutrients or something than unfertilized eggs!

 

[Edsapjkr04]

Yeah, probably boys. Personally I would wait til about 3 months to see gender-specific saddle feathers, but for me their fate is the freezer, if boys, so I want to be super duper sure. There have been occasions were red-combed “boyish” looking chicks end up female. Even rare cases of girls making crow like noises, and girls will face up each other sometimes for establishing pecking order.

Also yes, in my limited experience, many of the “friendlier” or bolder or most curious or less fearful chicks seemed to have turned out to be boys, but not exclusively!

As for fertilized eggs, as long as they are collected daily (as all eggs should) and stored in the fridge or at least a cool location, they’re the same as unfertilized. That extra bit of DNA or few cells are minuscule. Now, if you left a fertilized egg in the nest for a few days or in warm temps, then you might not want to crack that open ... I’ve heard that selling fertilized eggs is actually a niche market as some folks think they have more health benefits or nutrients or something than unfertilized eggs!

Thank you so much for all the info and help! I'm still holding out that at least 1 is a female. Sounds like time will tell

 

[ladybrasa]

Yes, time will tell! Just prepare for the worst, hope for the best!

It’s really hard to not get attached, especially not knowing for sure but wanting socialized hens

 

[MysteryChicken]

Both are cockerels.

 

[BDutch]

Maybe another thing you should know: Easter Eggers are not a breed. But mixes with the Araucana breed. So the appearance of the pullets can be quit different.

If you post the whole chicks with the ages, we might get a better image. I suppose the combs are walnut- or rose-combs? Because the single combs should get ‘teeth’ if these are cockerels. But if they are just 5 weeks old I must admit the combs are very red.

If you want to go back to the seller bc these are cockerels and you want pullets instead, chances are you cant get pullets of the same age anymore. And you can’t mingle baby chicks with much older chicks. Don’t wait any longer. How bigger the age difference the harder it will get.

 

[Edsapjkr04]

Maybe another thing you should know: Easter Eggers are not a breed. But mixes with the Araucana breed. So the appearance of the pullets can be quit different.

If you post the whole chicks with the ages, we might get a better image. I suppose the combs are walnut- or rose-combs? Because the single combs should get ‘teeth’ if these are cockerels. But if they are just 5 weeks old I must admit the combs are very red.

If you want to go back to the seller bc these are cockerels and you want pullets instead, chances are you cant get pullets of the same age anymore. And you can’t mingle baby chicks with much older chicks. Don’t wait any longer. How bigger the age difference the harder it will get.

Thank you! I am going to snap some full pictures of them here in the next wk or so to edit to the post.

 

[Edsapjkr04]

My family is new to the chicken world this year. Our flock is a mix of girls including these 2 EE. We were told that they thought they were both pullets when we recieved them but based on other people's comments we are starting to wonder if one isn't a Rooster. Can anyone help us out based on the comb? Thanks in advance! View attachment 2671693View attachment 2671695

Rooster in question still. Here are some more pictures of our EE that we have thought is a male instead of female. Still male?