Feather Sexing

[Youngfamily1989]

I had to call the hatchery and ask them which are my males and females they did'nt mark them. I bought RIR and Araucanas she said both could be feather sexed and told me how to do it. She said to take the wing and spread it out, if the first and secondary wing feathers are the same length it is a male. If the first wing feathers are longer than the secondary it is a female or maybe it was visa-versa. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I think thats what she said. Can all chickens be feather sexed ?

Brian

 

[arlee453]

No, not all breeds can be feather sexed. Those that can't be feather sexed or color sexed have to be vent sexed.

Oh, I meant to add, unless you want to hold them upside down to see if they fight, or hold a needle over them, or any of the other kooky 'folk lore' ways to tell gender, none of which actually work... LOL

 

[homecatmom]

Quote:
Aha! I see you have been busy reading tonight! LOL

 

[arlee453]

Yep - I got to get me chicken' readin' in before bedtime... It's one of those Sunday nights where I can't sleep and of course I have to get up WAAAAYYY early in the AM for work.

I'm going off to bed now and see if I can sleep... wish me luck!