There are always some breeds that I can't determine pullet from cockerel, even at two months old. I put this down to my lack of experience with the breed, and with chickens in general.
However, I have now had 3 batches of chicks which were all BO Rooster x RIR Hen, and I swear that from about a week onwards it was really evident to me which ones were male and which ones were female.
The boys have always stood differently from the girls - even at a week old - they were very upright, whereas the girls were more 'squat' in appearance. The combs were another firm indicator - from about a week of age the males had a very yellow comb (which later progressed to pink) and the females had virtually no comb to speak of, or if they did it was much paler than their counterparts.
As the birds aged, my 'guesses' were always right. I currently have some 8 week old chicks, and the males have about 4mm of red comb, the females about 2mm of pale yellow.
I guess my question is: Are these breeds just easier than others to sex? Or is it simply easier for me because I know their parent's behaviour so well and now see it play out in their chicks?
I have only been in the chicken game for 9 months so I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just curious because so often we read posts about "6 weeks is too early to tell, come back at 2 months..." whereas my chicks have always been glaringly obvious to tell apart much earlier than that. For me at least, lol.
Any comments welcome
- Krista
However, I have now had 3 batches of chicks which were all BO Rooster x RIR Hen, and I swear that from about a week onwards it was really evident to me which ones were male and which ones were female.
The boys have always stood differently from the girls - even at a week old - they were very upright, whereas the girls were more 'squat' in appearance. The combs were another firm indicator - from about a week of age the males had a very yellow comb (which later progressed to pink) and the females had virtually no comb to speak of, or if they did it was much paler than their counterparts.
As the birds aged, my 'guesses' were always right. I currently have some 8 week old chicks, and the males have about 4mm of red comb, the females about 2mm of pale yellow.
I guess my question is: Are these breeds just easier than others to sex? Or is it simply easier for me because I know their parent's behaviour so well and now see it play out in their chicks?
I have only been in the chicken game for 9 months so I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just curious because so often we read posts about "6 weeks is too early to tell, come back at 2 months..." whereas my chicks have always been glaringly obvious to tell apart much earlier than that. For me at least, lol.
Any comments welcome
- Krista