How to sex buff Orpingtons?

[JenMT]

Okay, if the wing thing is correct for buff Orpingtons then out of my 7 chicks, I think I have 4 cockrels and 3 pullets. Not bad, if I may say so myself!

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
By then you should be able to tell based on the comb and the legs.

What do the legs look like if they are roosters?

It's a length and thickness thing. I can look and tell, but it took quite a few hatches to get it right. I had one I didn't know for sure until SHE crowed, LOLOLOLOL

 

[JenMT]

What is the earliest that I can expect a crow attempt?

 

[snowydiamonds]

The pullets (even as chicks) grow out their tails before the roo's or cockerels do. When they are first hatched and begin to grow their tails, the ones w/the "braided" tails are the pullets, the cockerels don't have a tail at first The lil boys are also show offs and always "taking chances" or "bluffing" or staging a stand off...you know, boy stuff... LOL

 

[JenMT]

Quote:
What do the legs look like if they are roosters?

It's a length and thickness thing. I can look and tell, but it took quite a few hatches to get it right. I had one I didn't know for sure until SHE crowed, LOLOLOLOL

Do the boys have shorter and thicker legs? When will roo's try to crow?

 

[vortec]

Quote:
I'm with you on that, lol

To add to another post, how do the combs look on roos at seven to eight weeks? Mine are very loveable so I assume they are hens but their combs are very noticeable. There is a bump of the waddle starting to develop too but its just a bump of red at 7 going on 8 weeks. Does this mean roo?

vortec

 

[vortec]

Here is a pic of my buff. I want to know what everybody thinks but I must say that the waddles have grown a lot over a two day stand so I am almost of the impression that this is a 7 week roo.

vortec

 

[JenMT]

My 8 week old BO girls do not have that big of a comb and their legs are not as thick as yours, but they are significantly larger in size than your chick....makes ya wonder?

 

[winniegirl]

I just found this neat tutorial slide show that clearly shows the wing differences! Maybe I can try it at the feed store, or maybe not

http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld006.htm

ALso, my alma mater. Too bad they lost to UConn today

 

[gkchristophel]

I have a BO chick that is very aggressive with "her" other companions. Our chicks are about 5 weeks old. Is it possible that "she" is a "he"? Their combs have not really started growing out yet and I'm not sure if the wing thing works when they're this old. Do I just have to wait until I hear a crow? And if so, how old are they when they start crowing?