Help with sexing 20 wk old RIRs (or production reds?)

[sberry]

I have 9 chickens raised from chicks. I ordered RIRs but, according to many of the forums I've been reading, it's not unusual for the hatchery to simply send production reds and pass them off as RIRs (?!?).

As I have 9 chickens, should I be posting individual pictures of all of them? I don't want to bog the forum down and be "that guy" in terms of posting too much info. Please let me know the best way to provide the information you experts need to help me sex this batch of chickens.

For the record, some have big combs and wattles, but are smaller and plumper with no evidence of spurs or big tail feathers or colouring, whereas others have little combs and wattles, but seem to have a greenish tinge to their feathers. It's all a little confusing to me. I know I MUST have some hens as there have been a couple eggs (they've only just started laying). The hatchery guaranteed 80% correct sexing, so I'd like to know sooner than later so that I know if I need to contact the hatchery for replacements.

I'll await guidance before proceeding with providing pictures.

 

[ccshambhala]

at twenty weeks it should be fairly obvious - you will be looking for the larger combs and saddle feathers (the thin,shiny, pointy feathers that cascade off the side of a roosters back just before his tail) check out feathersite http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Reds/BRKRIR.html you should be able to identify most of your birds - and if you have any question or need verification post pics

 

[donrae]

I'd just post shots with 2-3 birds per shot and we can take a look. At this age, the hens are getting larger combs and wattles as they mature, this is a sign of eggs incoming! Any crowing at this age means rooster. Anyone with long pointy feathers in front of the tail or at the base of the neck means roo. Spurs dont' mean much at this age. Also darker shading on the wings usually means roo.

 

[popsicle]

As mentioned by ccshambhala, by 20 weeks it should be easy. If any have red comb/wattles, but no pointy feathers they are probably point-of-lay pullets. Any that don't have red comb/wattles yet, will soon. They will mature at different rates.

 

[sberry]

@ccshambhala: The link returned a 404 error (i.e. the link is dead).


I'll post some pics in a few minutes. I've just recently seen a single bird "mounting" another, but apparently even THAT doesn't mean much more than a dominance display... geesh these guys are confusing... they should just come with a name tag: Bob -- you're a boy... Samantha -- that's a girl.

 

[popsicle]

@ccshambhala: The link returned a 404 error (i.e. the link is dead).


I'll post some pics in a few minutes. I've just recently seen a single bird "mounting" another, but apparently even THAT doesn't mean much more than a dominance display... geesh these guys are confusing... they should just come with a name tag: Bob -- you're a boy... Samantha -- that's a girl.

The link problem is due the characters after .html
try this now:
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Reds/BRKRIR.html

 

[ChickenExtreme]

Pics??? I Love Pics

 

[sberry]

The chicken above looks like a rooster to me (bigger tail) but the comb and wattle aren't really any bigger than any of the other chickens

this one above I figure is a hen... short, squat, short tail, small wattle and comb

this one looks boyish... longer tail, but again, no colour, smaller wattle/comb







the one above has lovely colour, but a small comb and wattle, and a short tail... girl?



big comb, big wattle, short tail, no colour.... ?!?

 

[sberry]

... and for the record.. I really want to be sure. A "rooster" label rings the "dinner bell" so to speak...

 

[donrae]

those are all hens.