Buff orpingtons - sexing - wing feathers

[silverpenguin]

We only had 2 hatch from our 12 (poor we know, we cracked open the eggs after to investigate, interestingly one of the unhatched chicks intestines were on the outside!? guess we know why that one did not make it....ANYWAY)

The chicks just turned a week old at day 5 the biggest and baddest chick already got some heafty wing feathers and the lil runt is just showing signs at a week old.

Would this suggest (only suggest) that due to the speed of development of wing feathers that big chick is a hen?

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Not necessarily. Could be a number of factors that lead to one growing bigger and growing feathers quicker. Typically cockerels grow faster. By week 3-4 you can see combs and wattles growing out more than pullets.

 

[silverpenguin]

Not necessarily. Could be a number of factors that lead to one growing bigger and growing feathers quicker. Typically cockerels grow faster. By week 3-4 you can see combs and wattles growing out more than pullets.

Ah ok I will take this into mind. I am about to hatch (or trying) another 30 eggs, it doesnt matter in long term because I will eat the males but would be nice to sex them ASAP so I know which ones I can get attached to

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Ah ok I will take this into mind. I am about to hatch (or trying) another 30 eggs, it doesnt matter in long term because I will eat the males but would be nice to sex them ASAP so I know which ones I can get attached to

Look at the little fluff ball!! Super cute. Yeah about 3-4 weeks you can really tell the difference in comb between the two. Especially in larger groups. You can see the combs differ.