General Sex Indicators?

[tenderkat]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to chickens, but have been having an amazing times getting to know my 12 week pullets. I've had them now for just over 3 weeks. 3 RIR, and 3 BR.

I read a ton of info before and since I got my chickens, so now I am suffering from major information overload.

I'm wondering if there are any specific physical characteristics that help determine gender prior to the obvious crow or laying of an egg. I have read about things such as body type, sickles, saddle feathers, wattles, blades, etc. Are these indicators breed specific, or can they be used to try and determine sex with any type? And if there are some generalizations that can be made about gender in the adolescant stage, what might they be?

I was told that all my chickens are pullets, but over the last couple of days I have heard a strange sound a few times come from the coop. It is kind of a hoarse goose/duck/sqwauk with a slight extra syllable. I'm not sure if my girls were just yelling at each other, or is this the beginnings of a crow? I'm hoping to be able to be a bit more attentive of each individual to determine if their physical characteristics lean towards rooster. Any advice?

 

[Hypnotist_Collectr]

Quote:
Mine are 7 weeks today... I am still wondering the same... I am hopeful that mine are all girls since their combs are slightly pink and yellowish colored... Almost everyone I talk to has said that they ought to be super red by now. Yours are pretty close to crowing or laying now, so just another few weeks and you'll know for sure...
I do have a couple that do the chest bump fighting thing... And one, in particular makes a screech that sounds like an eagle, which it has since it was a wee little thing... so, I am hoping it is not a rooster... though, s/he is sort of mean, so if one HAS to be a roo, I'd be semi-okay with it being her.

I also have one that is skinny and is becoming aggressive for no good reason with the other chicks... it used to be my #2, but man, it's mean!
Anyway, I am going to subscribe to this thread to see what the others say.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

In general, cockerels' combs and wattles turn red and grow larger, their hackle and saddle feathers have pointed rather than rounded tips. There are exceptions to both.

 

[sherrydeanne]

I would say that all those things apply to MOST breeds. However, they happen in different order and to different degrees. Post some pics of any of your chicks with red combs and we can tell you if they're roo's.

 

[krazycow6]

The BR can be sexed easily, by their coloring. If they are more black than white, chances are you have pullets. RIR are not as easy to tell. Look at the link below as a reference.

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/barred.html

 

[speckledhen]

With RIRs, I often look for very thick legs in the boys as an early indicator. BRs are really easy most of the time and can be sexed at hatch.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I didn't list an order of development, and I did italicise "general."

Several breeds have henny feathered males, where saddle and hackle feathers are rounded, not pointed. There are even a few breeds where it is a common occurrance, although it is not to standard. Breda is combless; silkie combs should not ever turn red (although poorer quality ones sometimes do); gender related development of non-single combs tends to be less obvious than of single combs.

 

[sfw2]

Quote:
I agree with Speckledhen.

I don't have BRs, but at 12 weeks, I could clearly tell the sex of my RIRs. (Wish I'd known what to look for when I bought them as chicks!

) My RIR roos have much longer, thicker legs than the pullets, and their combs and wattles are much more developed. They also have shinier and more pointed hackles and saddle feathers, and green sickle feathers in their tails.

And my pullets make quite loud "B-squawk!!" noises when they're arguing over a bug, or putting the younger chickens in their place.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Quote:
I didn't list an order of development, and I did italicise "general."

Several breeds have henny feathered males, where saddle and hackle feathers are rounded, not pointed. There are even a few breeds where it is a common occurrance, although it is not to standard. Breda is combless; silkie combs should not ever turn red (although poorer quality ones sometimes do); gender related development of non-single combs tends to be less obvious than of single combs.

You are correct. Although my post did follow yours, I wasn't responding to you; I'm sorry it appeared that way. I was soley responding to the OP, who said he had RIR's and BR's so he should have some red combs going on at 12 weeks

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm sorry, I think I've been a bit short tempered this morning; up too early and a couple of posts that struck me the wrong way. I think I'll go find a chicken to hug