baby chicks tail feathers

[chicken nanny]

Hello all,does anyone know,at 3 weeks old doeslonger tail feathers mean any thingabout sex of chicks.. I been told females has loner tail feather....
Any truth to this?? Thanks for help

 

[Pele]

Hi!

There is some truth to it, but it is dependant on the breed as well. (I had a Cochin rooster who developed as fast as my girls). On most breeds, the rooster feathers more slowly than the females, especially in the tail. I had a Golden Comet that looked so bedraggled and rumpy because he didn't start getting his tail until he was 7 weeks old!

 

[AuntieE]

I've been confused about that as well. I have 6 black australorps that are just over a month old. At first I had 2 whose tail feathers were coming in much more quickly. I thought they were pullets and the other 4 were roos. But now the 2 with the longer tail feathers have much larger red combs, and wattles are forming. So now I think I have 2 roos and 4 pullets. It would be nice to know for sure, but I guess time will tell.

 

[chicken nanny]

thanks for info, will see how this worrks out lol...