Help Sexing Young Ringnecks

[suki'smom]

When I purchased my 24 ringneck chicks about 90 percent were females. Now I want to keep 2 males and 4 females and be rid of the rest so my dilemma is how can I tell which ones are males at 4-5 weeks old. They all look pretty similar though there are a couple who's tails look more reddish brown. Would these be males?

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

You should be able to look at their eyes. The males should start to have their red circle developing the females will not have this.
Patty

 

[suki'smom]

Thank you for your reply Now I will just have to catch the little buggers and get a closer look....LOL

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Good Luck.
If it is easier try posting pix of them. If you have a zoom lens that can get closer to them if that helps.
Patty

 

[suki'smom]

Well I am finally starting to see red in the faces of some of them Thank you for your help. I do have one more question. Many of my birds have differing leg colors. Some are dark gray, some are pinkish, and one or two have very distict blue legs. What does this mean?

 

[drowe005]

I wouldnt go solely on whether they have red around their eyes or not as that is what I did, and the females will have red around their eyes as well, just not as profound as the males. I saw the red, So i assummed I had all males, and turned out to be 1 male and 2 females. The safest way is to wait until around 7 or 8 weeks when the males start getting new colors in

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Females shouldn't have red around the eyes only small rings. Also the males will start to have there spurs on the back of the legs. I will take pix and post them as soon as it stops raining and I can get into the pens.
Patty

 

[dutchhollow]

By now your roosters will have darker feathers coming in on the breast area, should be very easy. Not sure about your different leg color. We rasie 8 to 10 thousand a year, and I am pretty sure their legs are all the same color? Will look today, you made me curious!

 

[drowe005]

Not trying to negate other peoples posts, but females will have spur "bumps" as well, but they will not grow into a complete spur. Just throwing things out there that caused me problems sexing ringnecks for my first time.

 

[pheasantfrenzie]

Yes the females have little bumps but nothing like the males do. The males are much larger.