Can chicks be sexed when they hatch?

[Half a dozen]

I live in a built up area, so I am not allowed a rooster (even though I love how they look) I am not allowed one, so when I go to choose 4 chicks is it going to be possible to choose girls only? from newly hatched Cpl day old to a week old chicks? I saw in a chicken factory were yellow newly hatched chicks were coming down a conveyor belt with workers picking them up one by one and tipping them up side down and glancing at them, girls went one way the males they threw down a shute to.... well, they didn't make it

so I know it's possible, I just don't know if it's just possible with that kind of chicken, I need to choose my chicks in a day or so maybe 3 days max, so I need to know asap please. Thanks

 

[WiltonChickens]

It is possible. I watched an episode of dirty jobs where Mike Rowe went to Murray McMurray hatchery and they showed how to do it. One way was the wing feathers and the other was by the rectum. I have never tried it but found it very interesting.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

"Vent sexing" is the examination of the internal sex organs of a chick's vent to determine gender - due to the complicated nature of the procedure, there is a 5-10% "fail" rate on this sexing, so even with "sexed pullets" you have a chance of getting a male.
The best fail-safe method of securing female birds is to purchase sex-linked chicks. These are special hybrids that are bred such that the male and female chicks have visible differences in appearance at hatch that make telling the difference simple.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Vent sexing is done by the hatchery - by a trained, experienced person, btw - not something for the chicken newbie to pick up and do/try.

 

[Half a dozen]

Oh no lol, I'm getting my chicks from a local man who breeds them and has lots of birds, I will be having a discussion with him as to whether he can sex his birds or not, if not I'll be buying else were. I have a 13 yr old son and two daughters, 11 and a 6yrs old and my girls at least would be very upset if we ended up bonding and loving a chick who turned out to be a rooster and were made to give it away! especially as we are only getting four chickens maximum

 

[dheltzel]

Except for a few breed and special hybrids, it is impossible to sex chicks 100% accurately, as already mentioned. I like that you are buying from a local breeder, I'm one of those and here's what I'm doing for a buyer who wants 6 pullets. I will sell them 6 chicks that are not sexed, and give them as many others as they care to raise for me. Once they are sexable, they can pick the ones they want to keep and I'll take all the rest back. I expect there little boy will be told that they need to go back to the farm they got them from because as they grow they need more room and there is only room for 6 full grown chickens.

This all involves some trust, mostly on the seller's part, but I expect it to work out well. I'm not risking precious chicks, but rather mixed layers, and the extra roos I free range on the farm anyway. I'm not in this to make money and I have a very string desire to help and educate people about poultry, even more when there are kids involved. I love that families do this sort of thing together, it's how I was raised.

Perhaps if you mention where you live, some other local breeders will help you out. By this time next year, I expect to have several lines of sexable chickens going, they are just a little scarce right now.

 

[Half a dozen]

Dheltzel

Thanks for that reply, I live in North West England by Liverpool, I am still going to buy from the local breeder, I spoke to him today and he has 4 breeds of chicks all just hatched and due to hatch tomorrow, silkies, polish, araucana and another type I forget. My children and I are going by his place on Thursday after school to see them, he has some knowledge with sexing and said some breeds are easier than others like you said to. h'es going to sort some of what he thinks are females out for us to choose from and he'll visit us when chicks are 5/6 weeks old and if any are roo's he'll take them back and replace what he takes back with females he has a home that we like. So all is good there.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
There are 3 ways to sex chicks.
1, vet sex, which takes a practiced eye. Checking the birds to see which sex they are.
2. feather sexing. Can be down between 1 and 3/4 days old. Not all strains can be feather sexed, ask the breeder.
3. color of chick down. One sex will have a different color or pattern if chick down than the other.
4. width of the pubic bone.
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-sex-chick-7597152.html
Best,
Karen in PA, USA

 

[debid]

Glad to hear you've worked out an agreement. I was going to suggest getting older chicks as most can be sorted at 6-8 weeks with a high degree of accuracy by an experienced eye (plus you skip the whole heat lamp stage).