Awaiting DNA test results

[Hjgh91]

So let's get guesses for fun!
These chicks are approximately 4 weeks old. The larger multicolored one is a few days older, I don't know eithers EXACT age.

The orangish one looks and feels significantly smaller...not sure if it's due to breed (both unknown) or if it is a little stunted (had a rough start getting pecked by the grown ups, took about 2 weeks for its wound to heal and didn't grow much until it was healed up).

I suspect one cockerel and one pullet. Would be helpful if I knew the breeds or exact age differences.

Hope I find out before the weekend


Edited post multiple times due to typos. Oops

 

[Painted Calls]

I agree with your guess. First is a cockerel, second is a pullet.

Now we wait.

 

[MadamContrary]

I keep debating about whether I should DNA test our favorite Silkie and Silkie mutt chicks. What company did you end up going with?

 

[Hjgh91]

I keep debating about whether I should DNA test our favorite Silkie and Silkie mutt chicks. What company did you end up going with?

Accu metric

https://www.accu-metrics.com/animal-services/p/avian-dna-bird-sexing-test

It was super easy, although pulling the feathers out was more unpleasant than I thought. It made me cringe (obviously I am a wimp). Totally worth it though because I am impatient! It was $15 a chick. Prohibitive for large flocks, but I just have the 2

You can also test eggshells, or cut a nail to get blood instead.

 

[Weeg]

Interesting. What did it cost you? I could probably look at the website to find out lol, but asking seems easier.

 

[TheDuckGuy]

I agree with your guess. First is a cockerel, second is a pullet.

Now we wait.

I agree

 

[MadamContrary]

Accu metric

https://www.accu-metrics.com/animal-services/p/avian-dna-bird-sexing-test

It was super easy, although pulling the feathers out was more unpleasant than I thought. It made me cringe (obviously I am a wimp). Totally worth it though because I am impatient! It was $15 a chick. Prohibitive for large flocks, but I just have the 2

You can also test eggshells, or cut a nail to get blood instead.

No, you're not a wimp. Well if you are, so am I, lol! It's the feather pulling off a live bird that has kept me from doing it. I can pluck a dead chicken no problem, but I can't imagine pulling feathers off a chick! Poor little peeps! I also don't want to wait forever to know.

 

[Hjgh91]

Interesting. What did it cost you? I could probably look at the website to find out lol, but asking seems easier.

$15 a chick, so $30 total. We have to plan to possibly get more hens and likely to divide our (currently excessively large for our 3 old hens) coop into 2 coops, or get an entire separate 2nd coop...lots of variables, so I wanted some time to know what I am working with

 

[Hjgh91]

No, you're not a wimp. Well if you are, so am I, lol! It's the feather pulling off a live bird that has kept me from doing it. I can pluck a dead chicken no problem, but I can't imagine pulling feathers off a chick! Poor little peeps! I also don't want to wait forever to know.

I've never plucked a dead one, and was just thinking "la di da just plucking a few feathers that's easy!". It was technically easy, but just unpleasant feeling. It gives me goosebumps to think of it. In retrospect the nail clipping for a little blood may have been easier!

But regardless....it wasn't by any means unbearably unpleasant. Just weirder than I thought. I obviously have never even butchered a chicken very amateur

 

[Weeg]

$15 a chick, so $30 total. We have to plan to possibly get more hens and likely to divide our (currently excessively large) coop into 2 coops, or get an entire separate 2nd coop...lots of variables, so I wanted some time to know what I am working with

Thats not bad at all. I just check the website too, and saw the option for 5+ DNA tests and that was only 15$ for the feather sample.
Can you pluck the down off a young chick, or do you have to wait until feathers come in? Thats something I can probably email them about as well.