how do i sex full grown chickens

[ChickenWisperer]

Not ALL of the hens are going to lay EVERY single day.

 

[aggie9296]

What do you mean by "full grown?" If they are 2 years old, very obvious which ones are roosters or hens. If they are 3 months old, not as easy. Different breeds have different colors to tell them apart. Some you have to wait until they develop combs, longer feathers etc to determine which. You can't "vent sex" adult chickens, only chicks (like 1 day old).

The three that are not laying may be A) too young to lay, B) stressed by the move (or illness, whatever) and will start again, C) don't lay regularly or D) roosters.

 

[blefky]

When you're able to post pics, doing so will help others help you figure it out. Good luck!

 

[meow]

This may sound silly; but, when I started with my chickens in the classroom (from county extension sevice) the lady that came in and worked with my class showed me that a roo's legs hang down and a hen's legs draw up close to her body. I thought that is a weird idea (just had to be a trick or an old wives tale or something) - so I tried it on the 6 babies I was aloud to keep. The leg test showed 4 roos and 2 girls. Well, when they grew up the "test" remained correct. I have done this with each successive year and with the chicks I kept along with 2 that my Little Red Hen hatched and raised - it still worked. To this day, I can still pick up my grown-ups and roos drop their legs down straight and the girls draw them up tight to their bodies!!

Hope it works.

 

[wowmanacat]

Quote:
Thank you so much for this bit of info I am just not incubating some eggs and this will me to sex my chicks when they are here.

 

[aggie9296]

The leg thing is an old wives tale. Guessing a coin toss can be right 6 times in a row, too. It's still a 50-50 chance with each chick or coin.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

Quote:
It may be a wives tale but I am going to try it anyways just out of curiousity!!!!