5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[MontanaDolphin]

Took pics of the babies today...3 weeks old. Now their gender really has me confused. As a reminder, they are Barred Rock roo over Barred Rock or Commercial Black (hatchery BR cross).

If I go by length of the two rows of feathers at 3 days, I have 5 girls.

If I go by the speed of growth of the feathers, I have 1 girls and 4 boys.

If I go by the shade of fuzz (before feathers), I have 1 girl and 4 boys.

If I go by the feather barring in the pictures I took today (as compared to each other), I have 3 girls and 2 boys.

If I go by the size of combs and growth/tint of wattles in the pictures I took today, I have 3 girls and 2 boys.

I do NOT want to wait until they start crowing and/or laying before knowing what they are!!!

Tell me what you think

Chick 1 (girl?):









Chick 2 (girl?):







Chick 3 (definite boy):







Chick 4 (definite girl):









Chick 5 (boy?):

 

[chicken pickin]

Took pics of the babies today...3 weeks old. Now their gender really has me confused. As a reminder, they are Barred Rock roo over Barred Rock or Commercial Black (hatchery BR cross).

If I go by length of the two rows of feathers at 3 days, I have 5 girls.

If I go by the speed of growth of the feathers, I have 1 girls and 4 boys.

If I go by the shade of fuzz (before feathers), I have 1 girl and 4 boys.

If I go by the feather barring in the pictures I took today (as compared to each other), I have 3 girls and 2 boys.

If I go by the size of combs and growth/tint of wattles in the pictures I took today, I have 3 girls and 2 boys.

I do NOT want to wait until they start crowing and/or laying before knowing what they are!!!

Tell me what you think

Chick 1 (girl?):









Chick 2 (girl?):







Chick 3 (definite boy):







Chick 4 (definite girl):









Chick 5 (boy?):

Color wise these still all look like roosters to me except number 4. They all have large white splotchy head spot, more white baring on wings and light wash down the fronts of the legs, all that says boys to me.

I guess there is a chance that chicks 1 and 2 could ne girls because of the lack of comb and wattle growth but their heads have such a huge white splotch so its hard to tell.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
If I go by length of the two rows of feathers at 3 days, I have 5 girls.
.
..

...

If I go by the size of combs and growth/tint of wattles in the pictures I took today, I have 3 girls and 2 boys.
.
..

Tell me what you think

I would give these 2 things the most weight. Especially the latter. Pullets won't have comb development at this age.
I think your most recent findings to be accurate.

Also, when the chicks are all the same breed, the boys will have thicker/longer legs at this point.

 

[chickengirl1193]

At what age do the roosters combs start to turn red? And will this be evident in a breed with pea combs?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

I would give these 2 things the most weight. Especially the latter. Pullets won't have comb development at this age.
I think your most recent findings to be accurate.

Also, when the chicks are all the same breed, the boys will have thicker/longer legs at this point.

X2

Watch the questionable ones. With the breed cross you have here, the pink wattle is a give away. If the wattles on them go pink and get bigger over the next several weeks, they will be boys.

 

[ronott1]

At what age do the roosters combs start to turn red? And will this be evident in a breed with pea combs?

For pea combs, count the rows. Boys have more rows the girls. The wattle is more important for telling gender for chicks with pea combs.

 

[chickengirl1193]

For pea combs, count the rows. Boys have more rows the girls. The wattle is more important for telling gender for chicks with pea combs.

Okay thank you!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At what age do the roosters combs start to turn red? And will this be evident in a breed with pea combs?

It depends on the breed, day length, nutrition and the individual.
They definitely start earlier than pullets, but there is no one answer.

 

[Wunjo]

I would give these 2 things the most weight. Especially the latter. Pullets won't have comb development at this age.
I think your most recent findings to be accurate.

Also, when the chicks are all the same breed, the boys will have thicker/longer legs at this point.

X3

3 girls 2 boys

 

[chickengirl1193]

It depends on the breed, day length, nutrition and the individual.
They definitely start earlier than pullets, but there is no one answer.

Okay I guess time will tell lol