How to sex the chick?

[AllenK RGV]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/list-of-breeds-that-can-be-auto-sexed.1008044/

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/07/vent-sexing-chicks-sex-links-autosexing.html?m=1
Here are 2 links with info on the topic of sexing chicks and auto sexing breeds

There should be an "awesome like" option thanks for links.

 

[JaeG]

Some breeds mature a lot faster than others. Some can keep you guessing for months on end such as bearded silkies.

Here are a couple of my bantam chicks to show you the difference between boys and girls at 4 weeks old (other breeds will vary but generally by 6 weeks they'll be giving you hints).

The girls have no wattles sprouting and very little comb to speak of. Their combs will start to grow and pink up around 12 weeks old.


The boys on the other hand are sporting little pink wattles and their combs are sprouting.

My mix coloured Orpingtons were even more evident at 4 weeks old:

 

[AllenK RGV]

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.

I would like to offer you a solution to them disappearing and I say this without passing any judgement. Large patch of feathers left behind sounds like a cat to me, let us all vote for the predator we think it is/was.

Before getting chicken again lets try to secure the property against predators if possible, next lets look at your coop and is it secure from hawks, owls, foxes, dang you are an aussie? Wombats? Tasmanian devils? stray or wild cats and dogs? do you have plenty of hiding places on your property for your hens to hopefully escape predation? Can you train your dog(s) to protect your flock?

Those are things I would be looking at first and foremost.

Allen

 

[AllenK RGV]

Oh and welcome to BYC!!!!! I'm so sorry to be slow to realize you are a new member to our flock! @KikisGirls @lazy gardener @N F C and countless other greeters I forgot to include lets give a warm welcome!!!!


EDIT-linking in more of our greeters... @biophiliac @Chickassan @apryl29 @andreanar @WVduckchick

 

[N F C]

Oh and welcome to BYC!!!!! I'm so sorry to be slow to realize you are a new member to our flock! @KikisGirls @lazy gardener @N F C and countless other greeters I forgot to include lets give a warm welcome!!!!

Hi Linda, welcome to BYC!