Is there any way to sex dark brahma chicks?

[willkatdawson]

I'm leaving soon to go get some dark brahma chicks to place under my broody hen. Do you know if there's any way for me to tell the pullets from the cockerels?

 

[PDXcluck]

Search around the breed and gender section. I have a dark brahma and was looking around over there last night.

My take-away message was that dark brahma pullets and roos feather out differently from early on. With the hens showing mottled feathers around the wings/back area, and the roos coming in solid black in the same areas.

I would try to find someone more knowledgeable for more clarification, but as long as they are 4-5 weeks old it seems like you can reliably sex with some certainty based upon feathering.

 

[barnyard betty]

I would be interested to know this as well...I have what I believe is a Dark Brahma chick about 2 weeks old and he/she has brown speckles on the otherwise black tail and wings....please post if anyone has experience in sexing DB chicks...but I guess I will find out eventually right?

 

[BlazeJester]

Betty, true DB do not have any red in them. It is likely a mutt or other breed.

I have two LB that are feathering very differently but I am certain based on comb color & development both are males - a good example of how feather (growth) sexing can be very inaccurate if the parent stock is not selected specifically for that purpose.

As for coloring, breeds that color differently are likely to be reliable if they are bred true.