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How To Sex A Chicken - Wisdom From An Old Timer

post #1 of 130
3/3/08 at 12:32am
Thread Starter 

My wife and I were at the local feed store checking on their new chickens when we were taught a very interesting trick from an old-timer. He says you can hold the chicks up by the scruff of the neck (like you'd hold a baby kitten) and let their feet dangle. He says the males will pull their legs up while the females will always leave their legs dangling.

So we put it to the test. They had some chickens already sexed and we started experimenting, and sure enough the males would raise their feet up and the females would keep them dangling down. 

I had never read about this technique online so I thought I'd share the wisdom. I don't know how old the chickens have to be or if it's only certain breeds but it seemed to work on the 3-6 day old chicks from several different breeds.

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post #2 of 130
3/3/08 at 12:58am

I have heard of this before. Never tried it. Some will say it is just an old wives tale while others feel it works. Much like getting six chicken breeders in the same room and asking them a question. You will get six diverse responses.

"If you want to be happy for a year, win the lottery. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, love what you do."
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
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"If you want to be happy for a year, win the lottery. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, love what you do."
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
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post #3 of 130
3/3/08 at 4:11am

That would be a grate way to tell what sex of chicks i'm getting from the feed store. I hope it works.

Gabba Gabba Hey!
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Gabba Gabba Hey!
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post #4 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:06am

Oh yes...I had a guy do this for me once at a TSC..by his method I grew out 5 cockerals and 3 pullets thwink

Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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post #5 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuffoldhen 

Oh yes...I had a guy do this for me once at a TSC..by his method I grew out 5 cockerals and 3 pullets thwink


...Was gonna try it on my chicks until...............Read this and,
lau TEARS IN MY EYES LAUGHING!!!!!!!! lau

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post #6 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:38am

Has anyone seen the device on ebay? it shows you the sex of any breed. Has anyone bought that?

BYC. Enabling one person at a time
 

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BYC. Enabling one person at a time
 

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post #7 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:39am

True story!!....lol

Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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post #8 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:52am

Studies have shown that that method IS 100% accurate.  Seriously...
ep
















With a +/- 50% margin of error.    he  lau  gig

Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
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Arlee453 is Susan, mom to  (in no particular order...) 4 humans, a big-ole bunch of chickens, chicks, etc, 7 dogs, 3 cats, parakeets, peafowl, a few ducks and 1 neglected husband...
Visit my blog/webcam webpage:
Chick-N-Cam:  http://arlee453.camstreams.com/
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post #9 of 130
3/3/08 at 6:59am

is this anything like the one where you hold the baby's by the feet and hang them upside down?

males will curl up and females would just kinda hang there with the wings spread open

I tried it and I came home with 1 roo 2 pullets

a few months later tried it on the 20 chicks I ordered - well the babies did not get the memo on how they were to hang - the ones that hung down one day would curl the next - out of the 5 banty's I ordered I got 4 roos 1 hen -  ep


oh well back to the drawing board

Julie

owned by 2 dogs ... 1 cat .. and a room full of rats  ( I am a foster mom for a local rat rescue )
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owned by 2 dogs ... 1 cat .. and a room full of rats  ( I am a foster mom for a local rat rescue )
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post #10 of 130
3/3/08 at 10:05am

LOL loved +- 50 margin error. Perfect.

Whenever people tell you tips like that, just ask yourself.. why do the hatcheries NOT use those methods? Sure would save them a lot of money if those tips really were that correct and effective..

No, the hatcheries being ignorant is not an answer.. they have heard of and probably tried everything under the sun.. after all they need to make a profit..

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