Male or female?

[BroodyMama1]

They are about 3 weeks old. My first time with quails. I’ve watched some videos on sexing but not sure. Are they still too young?

 

[nchls school]

They look good, but I think them too young to sex. Wait until their heads are completely feathered and, even then, some of the colors may prove difficult to sex. I admit that some of these mutations I am not familiar with. Even so, you might have to wait for the males to start crowing. Once they're to that point any you're not sure of can be vent sexed as males' vents will swell and produce a foam like substance when pressed as they reach sexual maturity; just a few weeks from now.

 

[muddy75]

i’m afraid you are not going to like my answer but here goes
#’s 1,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,15 are not feather sexable colors (they may be vent sexed at 5-6 weeks)
#s 2,3,8,10,13,14 look to be males at this stage

 

[Nabiki]

I was thinking the same as @muddy75

 

[BroodyMama1]

My quail are really just for egg hatching fun. We plan to just eat any males.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

As @muddy75 said, most of them are not feather sexable and as @nchls school said, the rest can change the plumage pattern still till mature.

But if I should place a bet.... I would say 3,8 and 10 could be females

 

[FloorCandy]

As @muddy75 said, most of them are not feather sexable and as @nchls school said, the rest can change the plumage pattern still till mature.

But if I should place a bet.... I would say 3,8 and 10 could be females

Agreed, 3 and 8 look like they might be developing spots on their chests.

 

[Fenrisulfr]

At this age, even males can have spots, but loosing them soon. Most dedicate sign therefore is the rusty color on the chest (Pharao, Italian).
Difficult is it with Fees, as they have no redish colors and the males will have a white chests.

I would place my highest bet on 10. As it is a Roux Dilute or Cinnamon, the spots will not be black, but tan.

 

[BroodyMama1]

sadly we lost 6 to a hawk. We have added netting to the top of their pen. We’ve never lost a chicken so we thought we were ok but. We were wrong. These are who remain.