Average wait to sex chicks

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BayBay Peepers

BayBay Peepers

Crowing
6 Years
Apr 5, 2013
5,156
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Wisconsin
Hello my fellow BYC'ers.

I have two chicks that my hens hatched so I have no clue what gender they are. Before I just bought them sexed, but quickly learned that's not always accurate either.
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I have one buff orpington and one buff orpington x white leghorn that are a little over 5 weeks. I'm fairly certain the buff is going to be a pullet, but the crossed one throws me off. Mostly because my white leghorn hens have such large tails, wattles, and combs.

How soon do you think figuring it out could be done? Its not any kind of emergency more like me just be anxious. If I posted some pictures would you take a stab at it?
 


This is Eggness: I'm farely certain it's a pullet.



Here's Mutt: My questionable.

Any hints? I understand if it's just too early. Just jumping the gun a little bit
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The Buff Orpington is looking like a pullet. However, I'm not sure on the mixed one either. Leghorns/leghorn mixes do usually develop large combs at a young age, but if "she" was any other breed, I would say cockerel. With most chicks, you'll have a pretty good idea of gender at 8-10 weeks of age, though this does vary.
 
Thanks. So we're pretty much on the same page here. I'm ok with that. I want to be able to keep them both so I'm crossing my fingers for two pullets. I have a perfect rooster already and I'm not willing to part with him just yet. And I have to admit I'm extremely curious on how the cross breed will turn out. I guess it'd be interesting to see either way if it was a pullet or cockerel, but I want to know what characteristics it would take from each side as a pullet. Guess I'll have to wait and see
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the feathers on hens tail and wings are most always longer ,, on roos the tail and wing feathers will be shorter..and two to five weeks this is very apparent...but if you only have a couple of chicks and no experiance then you have no reference...but like said above the BO is a hen...jeff
 
I understand what you're saying. I had chicks before, just never hatched them on my own and tried to figure it out. I'm glad we all feel the buff orpington is a pullet. Any guess for the cross? I'm just curious what people think.
 
Theres pros and cons to this if it's correct.

Pro: I can hatch a few extra chicks next spring.

Con: Can't keep the little bugger.

Whats your main reason for this? Just trying to learn not questioning your judgment.
 
Yeah, looks male. Sorry.

At six weeks it’s the size of the wattles even more than the comb though that is a big red comb. Red is more key than big though big is important too. Compare the comb/wattles color between your buff and this one.

The legs look heavy and the posture is more upright. These are more subtle clues.
 

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