Gender of chicks

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Susan Crowley

Susan Crowley

In the Brooder
Jun 28, 2017
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Hello! I am hoping to start raising 3-4 chickens in my back yard very soon, so I have found you all to help me!
I am in a small town on Cape Cod and currently have 1/3 acre with a modest home and 3 out-buildings. I enjoy a pet rabbit with an outdoor enclosure+ hutch, 2 border collies from a Tennessee rescue kennel and one adult barn cat. I have raise 4 kids and 2 are still in my basement. (good boys , 17 and 19 with trade skills!
I have been a professional portrait and event photographer for 28 years here and my husband is a carpenter. Getting him to build a coop is my first hurdle. (I will be looking for building plans for a roosting hutch for up to 8 birds)
I have spoken to many people recently who say that it can be very hard to determine gender in a check, and most people want to start with chicks.
My question is, can I simply start with a bird just old enough to have a definite gender called?
 
If you order them from a hatchery you can get them sexed. Otherwise around 4-6 weeks of age you can usually tell which gender they are.
 
Yes, you can start with an older bird to be positive of gender. They aren't as easily socialized as baby chicks.

In some breeds like Silkies & Polish, and slow maturing Brahmas it can take months to determine gender.

We have an excellent "What breed or gender is this." thread that can sort most breeds out for you by 8-10 weeks of age.

For chickens their roosting hutch is called a coop. You may want to check out the coops section for various plans, styles, sizes.

Some hatcheries sell sexed chicks for a higher price, though they cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.
 

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