Did i get this right? Sexing RIR chicks at 2 weeks.

[Tala]

If you look to the left under my avvy it says a link to "MY BYC page" that's what I meant

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=27985

Everyone is right, it's not failproof.

But hey, it worked for ME and those were my very first chickens ever!
hehehe

 

[ella]

Slow or fast feathering can be bred into certains strains of certain breeds but it is NOT a foolproof way to sex all chicks.

You have to know where they came from or it's a guessing game.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
It's a fun game though

 

[PunkinPeep]

I agree that you can't sex different breeds the same way. And i agree that there's probably never a method that's 100% accurate all the time.

I do NOT believe that there's "just no way to tell." If we study and learn about a breed and observe it, we can learn the patterns. And that's what i'm trying to do.

I really appreciate the input.

I am going to use this bunch that i tried to sex at 2 weeks (there are actually 7 of them) and i will see what my accuracy is with this bunch.

I will try to remember to update in about a month when the roos should be having some noticeable developments, whether my initial suspicions are holding.

Haha! It is a fun game!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Tala, those are GORGEOUS birds!

 

[ella]

There are several methods that are 100% accurate, most rely on color sexing. There is a really cool article on sexing chicks here: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/chickens_retired/20865

Most require cross breeding of different breeds or color, the second page is about feather sexing.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
HEHEHEHE Thanks!
I do agree those roosters turned out pretty striking, and Queenie is SO soft!!

However, those poor white Leghorns don't look so great when they get muddy rooster feet on their backs

 

[PunkinPeep]

You're so right, Ella. If they're the breeds that can be sexed by color, what a BREEZE!

Must be nice to be so sure so easily! I'm afraid i don't have that luxury.

Oh well. I love my heavy pure breds (so to speak).

Great link! Thanks!

 

[PunkinPeep]

I'm going to have to try that hat trick thing! That sounds like fun, if nothing else!

 

[irenew]

Hi
I had 6 RIR chicks earlier this year . I read everything on sexing them. Some sites mentioned the darker chicks were the girls(that sort of stripe) 3 of mines had a strip. Others mentioned wings two had fast developing feathers that were uneven. Some mentioned tails another two didn't develop tails till 4 to 5 months

Ok to cut a long story short there was only one rooster in the group. This one grew a comb and wattles I think at 6 weeks. He had a redder tinge to the eye too and red skin round it.


He then rapidly grew a third bigger than the girls.

All the others(lucky for me) were girls.

The one that had the biggest greenest tail(not curved and sicle shaped) was a girl.
I sent my one roo to a friend at 4-5 mths (he wasn't crowing yet didn't have saddle feathers yet or a rooster tail yet.

So yeah I would go with the head gear for RIR.