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What age is best to sex barnyard mix chicks?

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post #1 of 4

2/9/12 at 8:26pm

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Emptywagon2

Location: North East Texas
Joined: 11/2011
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I have 11 barnyard mix chicks that were hatch 1-21/24-12. I need to sex them as soon as possible. What would be the best age to do this?

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post #2 of 4

2/9/12 at 8:32pm

BlazeJester

Location: Pendleton, SC
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It depends on the breeds involved. Some, like barred birds, can be pretty accurately sexed very early on. If you had a red roo over barred hens, you already have sex links. Otherwise it depends on the luck of the draw with genetics - some will sprout very red combs pretty early, while others will surprise you. No way to tell for sure with most chicks (especially orps, brahmas, cochins) until 12-14 weeks when saddle and hackle feathers start coming in.

~Meg~
The remaining 6 of my original 7 barred rocks are 3yrs old and happily divided between a friend and my mom.
Laying: 2 Partridge Rocks, 1 Columbian Wyandotte and 2 Black Australorps. 14 weeks: 3 bantam Araucana.
Cowed to chicken math and sharing my bedroom with 8 BBS Ameraucana mixes.

post #3 of 4

2/9/12 at 8:46pm

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Emptywagon2

Location: North East Texas
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They came from a mix of a Black Sex Link rooster over Red Sex Link hens, a white EE, & a Nankin mix banty hen. This is my "learner" flock. I want to learn as much about keeping chickens with them & then get some full breeds to raise chicks from. All my chickens have single combs with the Roo & RSL hens having huge comb and wattles.

post #4 of 4

2/10/12 at 5:47am

BlazeJester

Location: Pendleton, SC
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Yeah, you'll very likely have to wait several weeks with that kind of mix, since you started with mostly mixed breeds to begin with! There's no telling what you'll get. If you keep this thread updated with pictures of chicks you're suspicious about, we may be able to help you out as they grow.