How to sex the chick?

[Linda Clements]

We've had several chickens over the years that keep disappearing (large patch of feathers left behind - we live on the woods) after a couple years old.
The husby wants to know, and the main reason I joined, is to find out how to tell male/female when they're chicks.
Or how old CAN we tell, and how do we do it.
We cannot have roosters, but he's too 'tender hearted' to kill them.

 

[MairyMai]

As far as the chicks go you can usually tell their sex at at least 5 days old. However, depending on their breed, this might change how and when you can sex them. I am assuming you cant have roosters because of where you live, but have you ever heard of the 'Rooster Collar"? Its a Velcro collar that goes around the roosters neck (without choking him) he can breathe, but cant inhale enough noise to let a load crow out. If you did this you could keep at least one rooster

 

[Snoozeys]

Vent sexing is the most conclusive but i prefer wing sexing

 

[Linda Clements]

MairyMai:I have never heard of a Rooster Collar. If we end up with one, I'll get one for sure.
Snoozeys: Vent sexing? Wing Sexing? I'm thinking there's probably a forum here on doing that?

 

[sourland]

The only 100 % effective method is to buy sex linked pullets. In these breeds there are significant color differences between male and female chicks. All other methods have at least a 10 % margin of error.

Edited to add :

 

[MillersFarm]

Vent sexing is the most conclusive but i prefer wing sexing

Wing sexing only works on a few chicks that are bred to be auto sex in hatcheries. This wont work on most breeds and most rooster Collars don't work as well as expected. It will kind of muffle the sound but you'll still be able to hear a crow.

(Not my video)

 

[MairyMai]

Wing sexing only works on a few chicks that are bred to be auto sex in hatcheries. This wont work on most breeds and most rooster Collars don't work as well as expected. It will kind of muffle the sound but you'll still be able to hear a crow.

(Not my video)
!

This Muffler collar is effective because it makes the roosters crow no Lauder than a laying hen! But yes, It does not completely take away the noise!

 

[sourland]

Wing sexing only works on a few chicks that are bred to be auto sex in hatcheries. This wont work on most breeds and most rooster Collars don't work as well as expected. It will kind of muffle the sound but you'll still be able to hear a crow.

(Not my video)

Also it is not uncommon for 'collared' roosters to choke to death.

 

[Snoozeys]

When i tried a collar i found it didnt muffle the sound as much as they claimed !!
No denying from me that wing sexing doesnt works with all breeds !!

 

[Snoozeys]

Also it is not uncommon for 'collared' roosters to choke to death.

My plymouth went purple on one occasion from using one so not a fan !!