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[Irishgirl]

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[Pele]

One method I've used is picking them up by the scruff of their neck and seeing what they do.
If they struggle for a few seconds and then tuck their legs up: Hen.
If they kick for longer than, say, 4-5 seconds: Rooster.

I hope this helps in your quest for well balanced flocks!

Note: This works best on chicks about 2 weeks or older.

This is an old wives tale and will only tell you how badly you are hurting the chick before it gives up struggling. Do not hold chicks like this, it's cruel and unecessary.

 

[RockerHen]

This is an old wives tale and will only tell you how badly you are hurting the chick before it gives up struggling.  Do not hold chicks like this, it's cruel and unecessary.

X2. Their weight is not meant to be supported by the skin on their neck.

 

[Irishgirl]

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[Pele]

It is a point of speculation on wether or not an animal feels pain when you do something. I go by vocalizations when it comes to an animal that communicates primarily in that manner. I know for a fact that picking up a chick this way produces 'distress' vocalizations meant to summon a hen for protection. In my mind, that's evidence enough that I shouldn't be doing whatever it is that is distressing the chick.

Also, if you are certain this method works, then you could absolutely compile data on it and present it to the farming industry as a whole. There is multiple of millions of dollars that have been sunk into creating breeds that can be easily sexed at hatch. If your method actually worked, the industry would not have blown so much money on alternate methods such as vent, feather, and color sexing. If all it took was picking up a chick a certain way, I personally believe they would be employing that method right now (big industries hate spending their money unecessarily).

But again, if you think you have a method that nobody else knows about or has thought of, then you stand to make billions of dollars by compiling the research and copyrighting with intention of selling the information to big businesses.

 

[hdowden]

it does hurt the chicks, if it didnt they would not struggle and vocalize like they do when they are held that way...poor babies should not have to go throught that...

 

[hdowden]

It is a point of speculation on wether or not an animal feels pain when you do something. I go by vocalizations when it comes to an animal that communicates primarily in that manner. I know for a fact that picking up a chick this way produces 'distress' vocalizations meant to summon a hen for protection. In my mind, that's evidence enough that I shouldn't be doing whatever it is that is distressing the chick.

Also, if you are certain this method works, then you could absolutely compile data on it and present it to the farming industry as a whole. There is multiple of millions of dollars that have been sunk into creating breeds that can be easily sexed at hatch. If your method actually worked, the industry would not have blown so much money on alternate methods such as vent, feather, and color sexing. If all it took was picking up a chick a certain way, I personally believe they would be employing that method right now (big industries hate spending their money unecessarily).

But again, if you think you have a method that nobody else knows about or has thought of, then you stand to make billions of dollars by compiling the research and copyrighting with intention of selling the information to big businesses.

x2