Feather sexing Polish chicks?

[NatJ]

Thank you! No, I traded for the eggs. I did not meet the parents.

So there's no way of sexing these?

They could (by random chance) be feather sexable, but most likely not.

They might be sexable by head shape, as Chookchicken said--it's not something I know about, so I can't say for sure.

Otherwise, you can mail off DNA for testing, or wait until they grow a bit and sex them by combs/wattles, crest shape, feather shape, crowing, or egg laying.

 

[Chookchicken]

They have to be 1 day old, any older doesn’t work. They also have to be pure Polish for it to work 100%. Even then though I don’t think it’s ever a 100% guarantee. You’ll know when they are around 1.5-2 months old as it becomes very obvious.

 

[PrincessKiara]

They have to be 1 day old, any older doesn’t work. They also have to be pure Polish for it to work 100%. Even then though I don’t think it’s ever a 100% guarantee. You’ll know when they are around 1.5-2 months old as it becomes very obvious.

They were just hatched a couple hours ago... Barely dry. And yes are pure Polish

 

[Chookchicken]

They were just hatched a couple hours ago... Barely dry. And yes are pure Polish

Alright, maybe wait a few more hours for their feathers to get more fluffy
When I sexed mine it was the morning after they hatched.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Alright, maybe wait a few more hours for their feathers to get more fluffy
When I sexed mine it was the morning after they hatched.

Is this something you came up with on your own and how many have you correctly sexed that way?
I bought some polish chicks a few years ago and I picked all the ones with the fuller fluffs guessing they'd have the biggest crests when grown.
I ended up with about a 50/50 split of males and females.

 

[PrincessKiara]

My partner can tell young silkie males from females using beak shape. Is this a thing with Polish as well?

I can't do it, but he can and he's usually right too.

 

[Chookchicken]

Is this something you came up with on your own and how many have you correctly sexed that way?
I bought some polish chicks a few years ago and I picked all the ones with the fuller fluffs guessing they'd have the biggest crests when grown.
I ended up with about a 50/50 split of males and females.

This isn’t something I came up with myself. I admit it may not be the most effective way, but it is the only way you can get an idea of what your 1 day old Polish chick can be. It did work for me. In the end of the day though this can work it might not, but if your trying to sex a day old chick you can’t complain to much

 

[The Moonshiner]

I wouldn't complain because I like roosters as much as hens and I'm allowed to have them.
Someone that can't have them or don't want them may complain though if they read your post and believe its a reliable way then end up with males.

 

[Chookchicken]

I wouldn't complain because I like roosters as much as hens and I'm allowed to have them.
Someone that can't have them or don't want them may complain though if they read your post and believe its a reliable way then end up with males.

I agree. I live in a residential area and I am not allowed roosters so I can see what you mean. I do hope people would read more about it and decide if it is worth the risk. Of course if you don’t mind what gender you get this is a good thing to try.

There are a fair amount of people out there who would say it most definitely works. I’d say it is something you need to research into before getting chicks just wanting hens using this method. I am very interested in if this method will work for these little ones

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Now I'm torn cause if this does work, I only have one girl if any. None of mine have tiny little puffs, but they're 4 days old now too