How do you determine the gender of these 1.5 month old chicks?

[Zhadir]

I made a thread about 30 minutes ago, and I got plenty of responses helping me find out the gender of these chicks. However I would like to know what to look for to help me determine their genders.

On chicks that are around this age and size, what should I look for?

 

[Jener8or]

At this age, they won't have the pointed hackle and saddle feathers that the males will get, but you are looking for the size and redness of the comb and any sexually dimorphic color patterns.

 

[Zhadir]

At this age, they won't have the pointed hackle and saddle feathers that the males will get, but you are looking for the size and redness of the comb and any sexually dimorphic color patterns.

I have a few more questions.

#1: How can you use hackle feathers to determine the gender of a chick? From the pictures I provided, I don't notice any difference in the hackle feathers of the females or males as their necks just look brown to me.

#2: Can hens sometimes develop a redder comb at this age? Or is that just Roosters.

#3 I also noticed that some of the hens (photos #4-#6) have shorter tail feathers than the others. Is the length of the tail feathers not a good way to determine the gender of a chick this old?

Thanks for all the help. I am very new to breeding chicks!

 

[Jener8or]

I have a few more questions.

#1: How can you use hackle feathers to determine the gender of a chick? From the pictures I provided, I don't notice any difference in the hackle feathers of the females or males as their necks just look brown to me.

Nope, they won't have pointy hackle and saddle feathers yet. They'll come in around 12 weeks give or take.

#2: Can hens sometimes develop a redder comb at this age? Or is that just Roosters.

I've had a few pullets that surprised me because of their comb growth and size, but generally when they stay large and red starting at 8 weeks and before, it's a cockerel.

#3 I also noticed that some of the hens (photos #4-#6) have shorter tail feathers than the others. Is the length of the tail feathers not a good way to determine the gender of a chick this old?

The tail feathers aren't really a telling way to sex young chickens. They can look and come in all uncertain ways.

Thanks for all the help. I am very new to breeding chicks!

No problem! Thanks for posting!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I made a thread about 30 minutes ago, and I got plenty of responses helping me find out the gender of these chicks. However I would like to know what to look for to help me determine their genders.

On chicks that are around this age and size, what should I look for?

#1. Is 100% a cockerel based on the comb size, & color. Same with #2, & 3.

If this isn't all the same bird.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I have a few more questions.

#1: How can you use hackle feathers to determine the gender of a chick? From the pictures I provided, I don't notice any difference in the hackle feathers of the females or males as their necks just look brown to me.

#2: Can hens sometimes develop a redder comb at this age? Or is that just Roosters.

#3 I also noticed that some of the hens (photos #4-#6) have shorter tail feathers than the others. Is the length of the tail feathers not a good way to determine the gender of a chick this old?

Thanks for all the help. I am very new to breeding chicks!

#1 At this age, you can't. Male specific skinny, pointed saddle and hackle feathers don't start coming in until about 12 weeks. Before that, both male and female chicks will have rounded feathers.

#2 Some fast maturing hens will be darker than slower developing combs. But the combs in the first 3 pictures are far larger than any 6 week old pullet would have.

#3 No, tail feathers are not a reliable indicator of gender at this age.