Guide to sexing chickens.

[Clubber1234]

So, you bought home chickens and don't know whether they are pullets or cockerels, well, I can help you!
Please note:These indicators won't appear until the chicken is around 12 weeks old at the earliest.

Saddle feathers:
So first, look at the saddle feathers, if they are pointed then it is a cockerel, if they are rounded then they are more likely a hen.

Hen Saddle feathers, as you see they are rounded.

(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)

Cockerel saddle feathers, as you can see they are long and pointed.

(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)

Hackle feathers:
Another way of sexing chickens is by their hackle feathers, they are located on the neck of the chicken.
A hens will be rounded and a cockerels pointed.
Cockerel hackle feathers:

(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)
Wing sexing:

While baby chicks are covered in down, the ends of their wings will have a light feather fringe. To view the wing feathers, grasp the chick firmly in one hand. Use your other hand to extend the wing out until the feathers are somewhat separated and visible. A cockerel chick will have wing feathers of roughly the same length. A pullet chick will have wing feathers featuring two varied lengths.

Hope this helped you!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

The only problem with this, is that these indicators won't appear until the chicken is around 12 weeks old at the earliest. Before that, you have to decide based upon factors involving the comb and wattle color and size, and in some cases plumage coloration.

ETA: Otherwise, this is completely true and a good post.

 

[Clubber1234]

The only problem with this, is that these indicators won't appear until the chicken is around 12 weeks old at the earliest. Before that, you have to decide based upon factors involving the comb and wattle color and size, and in some cases plumage coloration.

ETA: Otherwise, this is completely true and a good post.

Thankyou will add as a note

 

[Gray Farms]

Also might mention that some breeds are "hen feathered" and this process for sexing won't work at all.

 

[drumstick diva]

x2 Gray Farms

 

[Saaniya]

So, you bought home chickens and don't know whether they are pullets or cockerels, well, I can help you!
Please note:These indicators won't appear until the chicken is around 12 weeks old at the earliest.

Saddle feathers:
So first, look at the saddle feathers, if they are pointed then it is a cockerel, if they are rounded then they are more likely a hen.

Hen Saddle feathers, as you see they are rounded.
View attachment 1670968
(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)

Cockerel saddle feathers, as you can see they are long and pointed.
View attachment 1670967
(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)

Hackle feathers:
Another way of sexing chickens is by their hackle feathers, they are located on the neck of the chicken.
A hens will be rounded and a cockerels pointed.
Cockerel hackle feathers:
View attachment 1670965
(Credit goes to @Brahmachicken240)
Wing sexing:

While baby chicks are covered in down, the ends of their wings will have a light feather fringe. To view the wing feathers, grasp the chick firmly in one hand. Use your other hand to extend the wing out until the feathers are somewhat separated and visible. A cockerel chick will have wing feathers of roughly the same length. A pullet chick will have wing feathers featuring two varied lengths.

Hope this helped you!

That's really great
Thank you for posting

I call my boy "Girl" until I hear his crow lol

 

[Clubber1234]

That's really great
Thank you for posting

I call my boy "Girl" until I hear his crow lol

Thankyou!

 

[chloeonz]

I have been able to sex my day old chicks based on the spot/no spot on their heads being a Plymouth Buff Rock breed! So apparently I have 2 roosters and 2 hens.
But funnily enough, I guessed by their combs (they were quite obvious compared to the other 2 who don’t have much above the beak) before I researched the breeds’ chick sexing. Glad I was reasonable right...but we’ll see in 12 weeks I guess!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I have been able to sex my day old chicks based on the spot/no spot on their heads being a Plymouth Buff Rock breed! So apparently I have 2 roosters and 2 hens.
But funnily enough, I guessed by their combs (they were quite obvious compared to the other 2 who don’t have much above the beak) before I researched the breeds’ chick sexing. Glad I was reasonable right...but we’ll see in 12 weeks I guess!

BRs (and any barred breed for that matter) are usually easily figured out by plumage at an early age, due to the barring gene. The males get two and appear lighter as a result. females get one copy and appear darker.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Looks good except the part about feather sexing. That only works on specific hybrids. So that needs to be changed.