Do The Back Patterns Indicate Sex?

[AmyJane725]

Hey guys,

Trying to figure out if my silver spangled hamburg chicks are girls or boys. I originally purchased 2, one boy and one girl. One of them died, and I'm not sure which one it was, though my gut tells me it was the girl. I was sent two replacement chicks (a boy and a girl again to ensure I'd have one of each, regardless of which sex the dead one is), and I'm wondering if it's possible to tell which is which. I know sexing is an art, and most chicks aren't auto sexing, but I've noticed a definite pattern with these chicks.

Each time I've been sent a boy and a girl I've gotten:

One chick with three skinny black lines, one in the center and a little higher than the longer ones on either side.

One chick with two longer fatter black lines that are kinda like ribbons.

I think the ribbon chicks are the females and the line chicks are the males. (I base this off of hearing that male chicks are usually lighter with this breed. I could be wrong. The three line chicks have white/yellow fluff at their shoulders that is lighter than the fluff on the ribbon chicks). Are these things actually ways of sexing them, or are the markings totally arbitrary, and you could have a boy with ribbons and a girl with lines?

I have two line chicks and one ribbon chick (who seems kinda sickly, so good thoughts for her(?). How many boys and girls do I have?

 

[AmyJane725]

Nobody has any ideas on this I guess?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hey guys,

Trying to figure out if my silver spangled hamburg chicks are girls or boys. I originally purchased 2, one boy and one girl. One of them died, and I'm not sure which one it was, though my gut tells me it was the girl. I was sent two replacement chicks (a boy and a girl again to ensure I'd have one of each, regardless of which sex the dead one is), and I'm wondering if it's possible to tell which is which. I know sexing is an art, and most chicks aren't auto sexing, but I've noticed a definite pattern with these chicks.

Each time I've been sent a boy and a girl I've gotten:

One chick with three skinny black lines, one in the center and a little higher than the longer ones on either side.

View attachment 1769954

One chick with two longer fatter black lines that are kinda like ribbons.

View attachment 1769953

I think the ribbon chicks are the females and the line chicks are the males. (I base this off of hearing that male chicks are usually lighter with this breed. I could be wrong. The three line chicks have white/yellow fluff at their shoulders that is lighter than the fluff on the ribbon chicks). Are these things actually ways of sexing them, or are the markings totally arbitrary, and you could have a boy with ribbons and a girl with lines?

I have two line chicks and one ribbon chick (who seems kinda sickly, so good thoughts for her(?). How many boys and girls do I have?

Hey guys,

Trying to figure out if my silver spangled hamburg chicks are girls or boys. I originally purchased 2, one boy and one girl. One of them died, and I'm not sure which one it was, though my gut tells me it was the girl. I was sent two replacement chicks (a boy and a girl again to ensure I'd have one of each, regardless of which sex the dead one is), and I'm wondering if it's possible to tell which is which. I know sexing is an art, and most chicks aren't auto sexing, but I've noticed a definite pattern with these chicks.

Each time I've been sent a boy and a girl I've gotten:

One chick with three skinny black lines, one in the center and a little higher than the longer ones on either side.

View attachment 1769954

One chick with two longer fatter black lines that are kinda like ribbons.

View attachment 1769953

I think the ribbon chicks are the females and the line chicks are the males. (I base this off of hearing that male chicks are usually lighter with this breed. I could be wrong. The three line chicks have white/yellow fluff at their shoulders that is lighter than the fluff on the ribbon chicks). Are these things actually ways of sexing them, or are the markings totally arbitrary, and you could have a boy with ribbons and a girl with lines?

I have two line chicks and one ribbon chick (who seems kinda sickly, so good thoughts for her(?). How many boys and girls do I have?

Interesting, I am not familiar with the breed, but I know amongst other breeds you can tell them apart by their coloring and markings. Yes, usually the females have darker colorings than the males. I have not heard that breed is auto sexing though, so maybe it is just a coincidence. I hope somebody that has experience with that breed will let you know!

 

[AmyJane725]

Interesting, I am not familiar with the breed, but I know amongst other breeds you can tell them apart by their coloring and markings. Yes, usually the females have darker colorings than the males. I have not heard that breed is auto sexing though, so maybe it is just a coincidence. I hope somebody that has experience with that breed will let you know!

I hope so too. I'm really curious. My gut tells me I have two roos and a hen. We'll see if it's right.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

You can't tell gender on markings with hamburgs. Gonna have to wait until its about 8 weeks old.

 

[AmyJane725]

You can't tell gender on markings with hamburgs. Gonna have to wait until its about 8 weeks old.

Thanks for the reply.
It's so interesting to me that two distinct patterns exist without really meaning anything. I wonder if they indicate something else about the birds...

 

[cstephens1987]

Thanks for the reply.
It's so interesting to me that two distinct patterns exist without really meaning anything. I wonder if they indicate something else about the birds...

Yeah. Intriguing to say the least

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Thanks for the reply.
It's so interesting to me that two distinct patterns exist without really meaning anything. I wonder if they indicate something else about the birds...

Well, let us know how it turns out. I’m curious to see if you are right!

 

[AmyJane725]

Well, let us know how it turns out. I’m curious to see if you are right!

I will let you guys know. I'm super curious. I don't want to wish away their babyhood though. I'd keep them as little peepers forever if I could. 2 months old will come soon enough.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Yup, Hamburgs are not auto sexing, so you can’t identify their gender by their color or pattern. Chicks of the same breed can have all different patterns, it doesn’t really mean anything it just varies. Once they get their adult feathers, they’ll start to get similar patterns going. Kind of like how barred rock chicks can have white spots in different areas than each other, but in the end, they all feather out similarly.