How early can you sex buff orp chicks? Any tips, please?

[Suellyn]

Hi, I hatched out some "wish list" Buff Orpington chicks that I got from Hinkjc, and am looking for tips on sexing... What do you "pros" go by for this breed- leg/foot size? comb size/color? anything else?

And at what age do you feel you can start to "see the differences"? Mine are still VERY young, hatched Friday the 29th.

I am a bit "gun-shy"... My last hatch (of various breeds) I got 8 (possibly 9) roos outta 10 chicks!!!!

Am hoping for better luck this time, and DYING to know A.S.A.P.!

 

[Suellyn]

ummmmmmmm..... anyone??

 

[ozark hen]

Hi there, welcome to the world of orpingtons.

You can tell pretty much by the way the stand at a young age. Legs are thicker and they seem to have "attitude". When they are a few weeks old their combs will be redder. They will probably be about 4-5 wks when you can really tell. But if you are a newbie ...when I was a newbie...I posted pics of them for members to see and they told me which ones were roos. It takes a bit of experience to tell and then you aren't always correct

There is someone in Missouri who has an amazing hatch rate of very few roos. Her orps are very, very nice, too. The roos I did get are awesome looking. PM me and I will send you her address if you are interested.

 

[crackertrail]

good luck, mine with the big feet did turn out to be a roo. got lucky with the other two.

 

[Suellyn]

Thank you sooooo much for the replies!!! I DID notice a difference in leg size... one is "slim legs" one is "hefty legs" and the other 2 are ???? Hard to say, altho am of course HOPING to see girly legs on them, too!!

One thing I DO notice is: leg SKIN.... some are thicker/"scalier" looking, others are smoother looking, no major scales... Have any of you ever noticed this before & does it actually mean anything??

Ozark Hen: If these all turn out to be roos like my last hatch, I will definitely want the info!!!!!!!!!!!!! My only "for sure" hen is a SERAMA.... cute as can be, but no big omelettes, there!!!

 

[ging3rhoffman]

These BO are male and female and you can see the size difference and can also see the red comb coming in on the little roo. They are 6 weeks old in this picture. The little roo has red wattles also. Now that they are 12 weeks old, the pullet still has a yellow comb

 

[briana1975]

I am still trying to figure out if I have any BO roos. Mine are 9weeks now and I am still not sure. None of mine have large combs and one has a red face and comb but it is small with small little wattles. Some of them are a slight pink sometimes in the face, but not always. Most of them have no comb growth and have no real color going on either. I ordered pullets but I can't belive I actually got all pullets. I was hoping for one or two roos.

 

[Suellyn]

Quote:
Too bad you're not closer to Pittsburgh... considering my past "rate of roos" I am CERTAIN I will end up with more of them than I want, and you would be MORE than welcome to them!!!!! GREAT quality birds, too... from Hinkjc, not hatchery stock!!!!!!!!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I noticed that the pullets grew true wing and tail feathers sooner than the one that turned out to be a roo. Also he had dark pink wattles sooner than they did. Hope that helps.

 

[txchickie]

I have one 8 week old BO that has me stumped, too!!!! There's no visible comb or wattles, but the space where the comb will be is definently a dark pink......