Isbar thread

[atmaclean]

Here is my one month old Splash Isbar. I am hoping for a pullet. She/he already has a lot of tail growing out. Don't females grow their tail out faster than males....or is that just wishful thinking?????

I'm curious to know what you find out about sexing them. I've got 4 that are close to the same age and am wondering what they will be - I have 2 splash, a black and a blue.

Angela

 

[Kimmi500]

That is so exciting!  Congratulations.  Keep us posted....  How old is your pullet that just laid??

Angela

Thanks!! She is 7.5 months old. I have read others say that Isbars can be late layers as compared to others. It sure seemed like forever

 

[atmaclean]

Thanks!! She is 7.5 months old. I have read others say that Isbars can be late layers as compared to others. It sure seemed like forever

Yes, I have heard that as well. I also read somewhere that they should be fed a little bit higher protein feed - around 20%. Again, congrats

 

[Flowerbh]

I just posted the question asking about others experience with chicks who grew out their tails faster than others and if that could indicate male or female. Two people responded and said that in their experience with chicks, most whose tails grew faster were females. Other than that, I guess we have to wait and see how early their combs start turning red and how fast their wattles grow. I am presently keeping track of my guesses on the sex of my new hatch by observing the following....
1. The growth of the tail feathers (and how fast they feather out in general)
2. Feather sexing at 2 days old (if there are two rows or one on wings)
3. Stance of chick when at rest
4. Wing shape at 2 weeks old (read that males would have same lenght of their primary and secondary wing feathers)

I figured my lone Isbar is a female from all these observations. She is only 5 1/2 weeks old, so time will tell!

I only got two Isbar eggs to hatch....one I dropped when I was putting in lockdown. I cried as I watched the little chick died in my hand! Made me sick!!! The other one is my little Nemo. Named Nemo because it was the only survivor (as from the Finding Nemo movie). Really hoping for a pullet!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I don't know about the tail feathering. I do know that feather sexing only works if you have two different lines- a fast feathering one and a slow feathering one- and then breed them together to get feather-sexable chicks. Stance is a good indicator, as is the diameter of their legs (shanks)- this is easiest when you have several to compare together, the ones with stocky thick shanks are always male in my experience. You didn't even mention comb, which is one of the best indicators. At 5 1/2 weeks you should be able to tell by the comb alone. I can't see it well in the photo, if it is small and light in color it is definitely a female. That's what it appears but I can't tell for sure because the head is blurry and angled away from the camera. I just hatched 4 Isbar eggs over the weekend- got two splash, a blue, and a black. one of them I already have my suspicions on gender- only time will tell.

 

[Flowerbh]

I don't know about the tail feathering. I do know that feather sexing only works if you have two different lines- a fast feathering one and a slow feathering one- and then breed them together to get feather-sexable chicks. Stance is a good indicator, as is the diameter of their legs (shanks)- this is easiest when you have several to compare together, the ones with stocky thick shanks are always male in my experience. You didn't even mention comb, which is one of the best indicators. At 5 1/2 weeks you should be able to tell by the comb alone. I can't see it well in the photo, if it is small and light in color it is definitely a female. That's what it appears but I can't tell for sure because the head is blurry and angled away from the camera. I just hatched 4 Isbar eggs over the weekend- got two splash, a blue, and a black. one of them I already have my suspicions on gender- only time will tell.

Yea, earlier I mentioned having to wait to see if the comb and wattles develope, but she has such a small comb right now that I am fairly sure my Nemo is a female. I am soooo glad. Want those pretty green eggs! Plus, she has feathered out evenly....no bare spots on her shoulders and neck. One other way I have heard for sexing chicks is the hat method! You get all your chicks together and let them relax and then you throw a hat on the ground next to them and those that stand up straight are males and those that squat or run are females! hahahhaaha! Read that in an old timers magazine! Maybe I should try that on my new hatches! LOL

 

[mstarr]

Interesting stuff. I love those green eggs!

 

[chichichickapea]

My first Isbars had prominent combs early. Hatched out a blue and could have sworn it was a pullet for weeks and weeks and nope, it's a roo!!!

 

[Flowerbh]

My first Isbars had prominent combs early. Hatched out a blue and could have sworn it was a pullet for weeks and weeks and nope, it's a roo!!!

Are you just trying to ruin my day!! LOL. I will "law-of-attraction" my chick to be a pullet! I will paint its comb flesh colored if it dares to show pink early. haahahhaha!

 

[chichichickapea]

LOL! Sorry, but I was actually surprised with how mine turned out and I thought I was pretty good at identifying it because I was correct with my others....so "it's" name is Issy...turned out to be appropriate for is he a boy or a girl??? But now I now the answer. Just hatched 8 babies, 2 already look like roos after almost 2 weeks.