how do I find my chicks saddle feathers

[tux and friends]

I was trying to find my chicks gender and I read on the internet that roosters have pointy saddle feathers and hen have rounded ones. The only problem is I don't know where the saddle feathers are. can anyone help me?

 

[wolftracks]

Saddle feathers are the streamers that hang from the base of the tail area.

If your chick is just a chick it will take a white for these to surface.

Here's my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock Ziggy

Hopefully you can see the feathers I'm talking about that drape down

This is a picture of Ziggy with one of the hens. You can see the big difference in the feathering.
His hackle feathers are long and pointy, saddle feather and his tail is fuller where the hen has rounded hackle feathers (BTW those are on the neck) and her tail is more compact and no saddle feathers.

The hen actually had some broken back feathers when I got her. She's his favorite hen, so that happens sometimes. So the area near her tail, on her back should look a lot smoother.

 

[tux and friends]

Yeah I see what your talking about on the rooster. my chick is like around 6 weeks old, i think, when would she start to grow those?

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:
At least a couple of months. It kind of depends on the bird and breed. Some mature early and other are late bloomers.

Combs and wattles will probably show through first.

 

[Happy Chooks]

They are the shiny, pointy feathers that hang down at the base of the tail. Only roosters get them. With welsummers, their coloring makes the saddle feathers super easy to see.

 

[stcroixusvi]

Thank you for posting this question. Some days all I see are saddle feathers and get very nervous. My chicks are only 8.5 weeks old, and the waiting is killing me

 

[TroutsChicks]

@happy chooks I LOOVE that rooster!!

can i have him? lol

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Ummmm, sorry, not a chance. He's staying right here.

This is my favorite picture of Moose, he was 6 months at that point. He's 1 1/2 now.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
You won't see them until roughly 13 weeks.

 

[TroutsChicks]

Quote:
Ummmm, sorry, not a chance. He's staying right here.

This is my favorite picture of Moose, he was 6 months at that point. He's 1 1/2 now.

he's beautiful!!!! I think im gonna add welsummer to my want list!!