At what age can you tell gender?

[newTexan2chickens]

I was given 4 mixed breed chicks that are reportedly 4 wks old. 3 are bantam and one is standard.... I think they might all be roos but don't want to post pics if it is too early. One of the bantams I am pretty sure is a roo because last week he started making this strangled I am wounded/dying noise every time he could hear the BR roo crow. So at what age can you really start being able to tell? Thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

It varies on how early you can sex them. Some breeds you can sex really early (day olds) and some you have to wait longer (it took me 8 weeks on Orps to be sure on my last 2)

Post pics and we'll take a guess for you. And I'd say you already have 1 rooster since it's crowing already.

(ETA: Yes, that strangling sound is a crow

)

 

[bigredfeather]

You can sex them once they are pretty much feathered out, usually at 8-10 weeks. If you hold the bird with it's head towards you, take a look at the feathers at the base of the tail (saddle feathers). If it is a female, those feathers will be rounded. If they are pointy, it is a male. If your birds are feathering out quickly, you may be able to tell as early as 6 weeks. I found it helpful to look at a mature birds that the sex is known to see examples of each. Once you figure it out, it is never wrong.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have not seen saddle feathers come in at 8-10 weeks. The earliest I've seen them on my birds is 13 weeks. And certain breeds (like Ameraucana) the males will have rounded feathers around the tail until much later.