Barnyard mix sexing, 8 weeks age. Too soon, or should I take lots of photos???

[U_Stormcrow]

What kinds of comb are you working with? I would expect to be able to sort out most kinds of comb by 8 weeks or less.

Singles - that's the Comets, the CornishX, and the "Rainbows", half of which have upright singles, the other half have flopped over singles.

The Brahma are all pea comb.

The SLW are all rose comb. and all my SLW were late to show pronounced rose combs, (like 15 weeks they looked largely like pea comb, and at week 16 "pop" they flowered!), so I'm expecting some confusion in the chicks as to SLW/DB parentage.

 

[NatJ]

Singles - that's the Comets, the CornishX, and the "Rainbows", half of which have upright singles, the other half have flopped over singles.

The Brahma are all pea comb.

The SLW are all rose comb. and all my SLW were late to show pronounced rose combs, (like 15 weeks they looked largely like pea comb, and at week 16 "pop" they flowered!), so I'm expecting some confusion in the chicks as to SLW/DB parentage.

That makes sense.

I was thinking single vs. rose would be pretty clear already, but I see what you mean about the pea/rose confusion. And I think pea/single crosses sometimes look enough like single combs to get mixed up when they're small.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

That makes sense.

I was thinking single vs. rose would be pretty clear already, but I see what you mean about the pea/rose confusion. And I think pea/single crosses sometimes look enough like single combs to get mixed up when they're small.

Honestly, I plan to look at the legs. My pea comb brahma throws should have evidence of foot feathering - the rose comb SLW will not.

I've figured that much out at least. I just don't remember how quickly it was before my Brahma chick's feathered feet were unmistakable (very early, I thought) or how evident it is when the gene comes from only one parent.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Honestly, I plan to look at the legs. My pea comb brahma throws should have evidence of foot feathering - the rose comb SLW will not.

I've figured that much out at least. I just don't remember how quickly it was before my Brahma chick's feathered feet were unmistakable (very early, I thought) or how evident it is when the gene comes from only one parent.

I could be ENTIRELY wrong, but I think only half of the Brahma mixes would have feathered feet, and they should show up at hatch (fuzzy little legs, although not as fuzzy as say a cochin, but I believe still visible) but the other half I think would be clean legged? or with like just a handful of leg feathers?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I figure I should see foot/leg feathering by now. Need to look for old photos, but I think fuzzy brahma feet was obvious in the days after birth. So by four/eight weeks, should be an easy tell.

 

[NatJ]

I could be ENTIRELY wrong, but I think only half of the Brahma mixes would have feathered feet, and they should show up at hatch (fuzzy little legs, although not as fuzzy as say a cochin, but I believe still visible) but the other half I think would be clean legged? or with like just a handful of leg feathers?

If the Brahmas are purebred, the fuzzy feet should show up in all of their chicks, although not as heavily as on a pure Brahma.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

If the Brahmas are purebred, the fuzzy feet should show up in all of their chicks, although not as heavily as on a pure Brahma.

That's what i'm counting on. And why i think none of the 12 so far are from Brahma parents