can you tell the sex of a chic by its wing feathers????

[wnthunting]

I have heard that you can tell the sex of a baby chic by its wing feathers... is this true? If yes ... how??? Please post pics if possible

thank you.

 

[Chick1043]

Well it only works with chicks that are bred for it. However here is an example-

Pullet-
___________________
__________
___________________
__________
___________________
__________
___________________

Cockerel-

___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________


Only works with chicks 1-3 days old.

 

[Chick1043]

By the way those are the quills of the chick. Hope that helps.

 

[LoreenH]

It depends on the breed. Both my Speckled Sussex had different wing feathering, I knew for sure one was a rooster. Nope, I have 2 pullets. I've been told by Sussex breeders you can't feather sex Sussex. My Easter Eggers & Silver-laced Wyandottes were feather sexed and they are pullets.

 

[al6517]

They also must be no older than a few day's old 3 at the most, I have done it with many breeds so it doesn't nessesarily have to be breed specific.

 

[Chick1043]

Quote:
Just curious but what breeds have you done it with? I am trying to sex some chicks right now! lol

 

[al6517]

All of the Plymouth rock varieties and it works very well on Cornish and cornish X, I have also done it successfully on RIR and Brahamas.

 

[Country Heart]

Quote:
When you say you have done it "successfully" - are you able to track how accurate you are can predict the sex? Do you think you get close to 90%? Just wondering, I think it's great that you have had success with the method.

 

[al6517]

Sure........... I band them after ID'ing them and track them to see if it worked and it does well over 90%. I have done it for some other folks as well and they were very happy with the results and have been doing it as part of their flock management program.

 

[Country Heart]

Wow - that's great! Glad to hear it works so well for you. Sounds like it's a skill worth developing