Comb sexing chicks

[Bantu]

this is my understanding of what Mr. Parker explained to me. I wish I could see what he meant on a chick. He's in a nursing home and wanted to share his farming experience with me.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Hello! I was linked to this thread because I am currently trying as many sexing methods as I can find on my five chicks, and later on 19 more chicks I'm expecting, just for the fun of it. Unfortunately, I think my current five chicks are a little old for this method at 3 weeks old, and the boys already have quite prominent combs, so I'm trying to determine from pictures of them when they were smaller. So far, if I'm looking at this correctly, from the pictures you just posted, they should all be female. None of their combs came down as far as is shown in that picture. I'm just not sure if I'm reading it correctly, and it's not the most ideal to try and figure out from pictures, haha! Here are the best, clearest shots I can find of their combs when they were smaller:

Chicks 4, 5, and 3 (in that order) facing to the left; Chick 1 (the darker one) facing the camera; Chick 2 is out of focus at the back:

Chicks 1, 4, and 2, with Chick 5 crouched down in the front:

This is the best side-profile comb view I have of Chick 5 (on the left):

And Chick 2, who was about 2 weeks old in this picture; I wasn't sure if it would work at this point or if they have to be younger, but it's really all I have because this one has always been so hard to take pictures of!:

I am about 90% confident that I know their sexes at this point (not 100% only because I'm hesitant to get my hopes up on the girls--the boys are pretty obvious), so I can post results, too, if you'd like. I'm quite interested to see how well this works, as it seems to have the most sound reasoning of the tests I've tried so far!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Hello! I was linked to this thread because I am currently trying as many sexing methods as I can find on my five chicks, and later on 19 more chicks I'm expecting, just for the fun of it. Unfortunately, I think my current five chicks are a little old for this method at 3 weeks old, and the boys already have quite prominent combs, so I'm trying to determine from pictures of them when they were smaller. So far, if I'm looking at this correctly, from the pictures you just posted, they should all be female. None of their combs came down as far as is shown in that picture. I'm just not sure if I'm reading it correctly, and it's not the most ideal to try and figure out from pictures, haha! Here are the best, clearest shots I can find of their combs when they were smaller:

Chicks 4, 5, and 3 (in that order) facing to the left; Chick 1 (the darker one) facing the camera; Chick 2 is out of focus at the back:




Chicks 1, 4, and 2, with Chick 5 crouched down in the front:




This is the best side-profile comb view I have of Chick 5 (on the left):




And Chick 2, who was about 2 weeks old in this picture; I wasn't sure if it would work at this point or if they have to be younger, but it's really all I have because this one has always been so hard to take pictures of!:




I am about 90% confident that I know their sexes at this point (not 100% only because I'm hesitant to get my hopes up on the girls--the boys are pretty obvious), so I can post results, too, if you'd like. I'm quite interested to see how well this works, as it seems to have the most sound reasoning of the tests I've tried so far!

I a looking forward to your results when you get your day olds!

Gary

 

[ChickNanny13]

I took these pics yesterday. I'm not sure I fully understand where the comb is proposed to stop on a female. Before the nostril begins, or before it ends?

I got out my macro lens today to try to get better shots but something is going on with it. I'll try again tomorrow. (sigh)

I don't have chicks to "guess" so guessing yours with the comb method....#1 C, #2 P, #3 C, #4 C I NEED CHICKS!

Bantu - Sorry for your losses

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I looked through my pictures again and found better ones (I hope). They're bigger and clearer if you click on them. Looks like my five chicks all had combs characteristic of females according to this method--someone correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Here are some slightly better for mine as well, plus another that hatched last night. I should have the last one by tomorrow night. To me the first four seem female. None are acting male yet either, though they are not even a week old but I've certainly had chicks that act very outgoing/bossy by this age. I'm going to replace the last picture now that the chick is fluffed up and maybe the comb will be more apparent.

 

[thlayli]

Here is a chick I'm worried is a cockerel. What do yall think? Is the comb extending far enough to be a boy?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Here is a chick I'm worried is a cockerel. What do yall think? Is the comb extending far enough to be a boy?

Extension wise I think female, but size wise I think boy! This is where the experiment will really prove itself. How does it act? Brave and bossy?

 

[thlayli]

I've got 2 groups of chicks: passive chicks who stay on the sidelines when I offer hardboiled egg treats, and super enthusiastic chicks who crowd eachother and jump over everyone to snatched pieces of egg and run. This chick is in the second group. Its comb is the most developed of the 3 chicks like it, and it's the most feathered out. Its not the only chick who exhibits those features except for the comb. It definitely has the most developed comb.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've got 2 groups of chicks: passive chicks who stay on the sidelines when I offer hardboiled egg treats, and super enthusiastic chicks who crowd eachother and jump over everyone to snatched pieces of egg and run. This chick is in the second group. Its comb is the most developed of the 3 chicks like it, and it's the most feathered out. Its not the only chick who exhibits those features except for the comb. It definitely has the most developed comb.

Hmm well the behavior sounds male but the fast feathering sounds female lol!