Anyone want to try sexing this 5+ week old Silver Laced Wyandotte?

[Vickery]

I have two Silver Laced Wyandottes. One however has a different tail and and more pronounced comb. See Pics. What do you think?

 

[silkiecuddles]

Top one I'd say is a roo. Which pics show the second?

 

[Vickery]

I only posted the one in question. All pics are the same chick. Thank you!

 

[kari_dawn]

that looks like a little roo...

 

[silkiecuddles]

 

[Elaine Elder]

Some clues...

females of most breeds get wing feathers and feathers on shoulders before males. Its called feathering rate sexing. Only works when all are same age and breed.

Males have feathers that are more pointed. Neck and saddle.
Tophat breeds the head feathers are pointed on males.

Exceptions.
Silkies and any hen feathered breed, feathering rate doesn't apply.
Sumatra and leghorn (and any breed where leghorns were used like Isbars) pullets have mock rooster tails that are confusing because they all look like roos Until roo tails grow out.

My dad's secret: lay them on their back if they stay its a girl if not its a boy. I tried with 120 grown hens and 52 roos. Id say 95% accurate.

My experience the roos stand up straighter.
pullets pay no attention to snapping fingers but roolets come see what you are doing.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Some clues...


My dad's secret: lay them on their back if they stay its a girl if not its a boy. I tried with 120 grown hens and 52 roos. Id say 95% accurate.

My experience the roos stand up straighter.
pullets pay no attention to snapping fingers but roolets come see what you are doing.

I will definitely try that with a few chicks i have now!

 

[Wyandottes7]

I'm leaning towards cockerel, but am not sure.

 

[fasschicks]

Some clues...

females of most breeds get wing feathers and feathers on shoulders before males. Its called feathering rate sexing. Only works when all are same age and breed. Does it matter how old they are? I have week-old chicks and notice that there are 2 of my lavender ameraucana's have really small wing feathers and the other 2 have really decent wing feathers on them. It is really significant that even my husband noticed it. This is the same with my favaucana's.

Males have feathers that are more pointed. Neck and saddle.
Tophat breeds the head feathers are pointed on males.

My dad's secret: lay them on their back if they stay its a girl if not its a boy. I tried with 120 grown hens and 52 roos. Id say 95% accurate. At what age does this start working? My chicks are only 1 week old - at what age do you think this will work?

My experience the roos stand up straighter.
pullets pay no attention to snapping fingers but roolets come see what you are doing. Again, at what age does this start to work? I have 4 lavender ameraucana's and 6 favaucana's.

 

[Elaine Elder]

Feather rate sexing.
as long as all chicks being compared are the same breed and age it works until they all have feathers with no down.

hatchery marked male with blue dot.
Male left almost no feathers.
female on right.
These are Russian Orlof.

My week old chicks

When I tried it with adults at the time of NPIP testing all hens would lay quietly on their back in my hand without restraint. The exceptions: sumatra, phoenix, fayomis.

Silkie roos will lay quietly on their back and have no feathering rate because they only get wing feathers. So silkies are usually the only ones I use this with. It's usually at 12 weeks. silkie males are born with a knob on their head. Females have a round head like any other chick. Female silkies have no comb if fully bearded. Male silkies have comb much quicker.
my Silkies have too much topknot to see any comb until grown without wetting their heads down.