How To Tell A Chicken's Gender

[Desertvalleychickens]

The easiest way to determine the sex of an adolescent chicken is by examining the feathers on the bird's neck. A female chicken has rounded feathers, and a male has pointed feathers. It is simple to check these feathers. Simply pick up the bird and hold it securely under one arm.

or check the wing feathers.

 

[Gray Farms]

Wing/feather sexing only works for very specific hybrids. 99% of chicks can not be accurately sexed this way. Those hybrids that can be it only works on the first two days.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Agreed, feather sexing only works on certain crosses.
And neck feathers aren’t actually accurate. Three of my six birds have shiny, point hackles and lay eggs.
Saddles are the way to determine gender on an adult.

And combs aren‘t always accurate either.
(yes, I know that it varies for comb types.)
Here’s a hen with HUGE comb & wattles.

And a roo with a small, wonky comb.

I often see people (referring to pea combed cockerels)
‘But it can’t be! It’s comb is so small!’

 

[The Happster]

Actually, I do believe hackling is accurate.
I stole this photo from someone on BYC because it shows the hackling very well.
My youngest cockerels are starting to get them in now, at 15 weeks.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Agreed, feather sexing only works on certain crosses.
And neck feathers aren’t actually accurate. Three of my six birds have shiny, point hackles and lay eggs.
Saddles are the way to determine gender on an adult.View attachment 2352568View attachment 2352569
And combs aren‘t always accurate either.
(yes, I know that it varies for comb types.)
Here’s a hen with HUGE comb & wattles.View attachment 2352581
And a roo with a small, wonky comb.View attachment 2352582
I often see people (referring to pea combed cockerels)
‘But it can’t be! It’s comb is so small!’

I agree.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Wing/feather sexing only works for very specific hybrids. 99% of chicks can not be accurately sexed this way. Those hybrids that can be it only works on the first two days.

Ok...