Feather sexing

[2102Simm]

So I have a barnyard mix of frankenstien babies. The father was a Barred Holland and the hens were RIR, Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. I know from research that all offspring will have some form of barring. My question is will I be able to feather sex these babies?

 

[keesmom]

No, the chicks cannot be feather sexed.

 

[2102Simm]

No, the chicks cannot be feather sexed.

Thank you for letting me know.. I'm still new at raising chickens, but why won't I be able to?

 

[LikeTurkeys]

If you're referring to feather sexing, since you don't know whether mom/dad were fast feathering or slow, you can't sex them that way. The father has to have a fast feathering gene, and the mother slow for feather sexing to work.

If you're referring to a barred sex-link trait (males will be barred, females not), that only works if the hen is barred. If the rooster is barred, all offspring will have some form of barring, and you won't be able to tell the sex off of that.

 

[2102Simm]

The father has to have a fast feathering gene, and the mother slow for feather sexing to work.

Thank you so much for the information. How does one determine if a bird is a fast feather or slow? Is it based on breeds?

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Thank you so much for the information. How does one determine if a bird is a fast feather or slow? Is it based on breeds?

Partly, but even within a breed are different birds with different genetics. Hatcheries mostly use vent sexing which is very accurate, and when breeding for feather sexing select only birds with known genetics. Chicks with a fast feathering gene will have primary wing feathers visible shortly after hatching, whereas chicks with a slow feathering gene a barely visible line of where they will grow in. If the chick is fast feathering, the chick may be fully feathered by week 4, and if it is slow feathering, it may take 6 weeks or more. So, unless you know how each parent feathered, you won't know weather your chicks can be reliably feather sexed.

 

[2102Simm]

Chicks with a fast feathering gene will have primary wing feathers visible shortly after hatching, whereas chicks with a slow feathering gene a barely visible line of where they will grow in. If the chick is fast feathering, the chick may be fully feathered by week 4

Ok that makes sense, thank you again. So if I have babies that are almost a day old and are starting to show a clear line of little feathers on the wings while others don't would that be evidence of a possible fast feathering bird?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Wing feather sexing only works in the first 3 days from hatch but if your rooster is a pure Holland I believe your chicks can be sexed.
I believe Holland's are fast feathering and yoir hen breeds are slow feathering breeds.
That is the right combination.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Ok that makes sense, thank you again. So if I have babies that are almost a day old and are starting to show a clear line of little feathers on the wings while others don't would that be evidence of a possible fast feathering bird?

Possibly yes. It's easier if you have both types to compare with.