First to get tailfeathers an indication of hens?

[shelleyb1969]

I've seen several posts on here regarding young chicks being sexed by their combs and their tailfeathers...hens develop their tailfeathers first, or so they say. Is this somewhat accurate?

I got 11 bantam cochin chicks from Ideal on the 15th. And if all indications hold true, then I've got 6 hens and 5 roos. And the 5 "roos" have visibly larger combs already as well. The little girls started showing their tailfeathers after just 1 week, but the boys still only have little fuzzy butts!...no feathers coming in yet. This is how everything looks right now:
Ordered 3 golden laced...all 3 have tailfeathers, no comb...GIRLS?

Ordered 3 silver laced, all 3 have tailfeathers, no comb...GIRLS?

Ordered 4 black, all 4 have visible combs, no tailfeathers...BOYS?

And 1 "free peanut" which is a birchen bantam cochin, visible comb, no tailfeathers...BOY?

If I'm right on sexing them, then I got pretty lucky.

But I've got 3 little black boys who will have to find a home.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

In most cases that turns out to be right...but I have had a few that had little tail feathers that were girls. Girls also seem to grow wing feathers faster too. If you for sure have a mixtures you will be able to tell in two weeks who are boys and who are girls.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:

I actually ordered the way I did in hopes of getting a black roo to keep for all colors of girls. But since I didn't get any black girls, I'm gonna have to buy/trade for a few!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

another way to try and tell is spread their wings (they don't like it much lol) and if the two lines of feathers are the same length...prob boy...if one is longer than the other prob girl. Of course this is not always 100% either but it HAS been for me so far

I have been correct on every chick I had so far with that.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Here is a link I found just now that shows this.

http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld003.htm

 

[Heather J]

Thanks for the link HWMP, I just tried to sex my cochin this way, but the feathers are barely starting to pop through, and he/she's three days old. Guess I'll have to wait a little longer. Either way I figure it's fine, since I only have the one and I plan to breed with my BBS silkies to see if I can get a sizzle eventually.

 

[thepetpaw]

Very interesting - I just used that series of photos for the link posted and I can tell a big difference. We will see if it works..

thanks again great info