More sexing - are my guesses right?

[ZoeStevens]

So I have been taking a close look at my 7 white chickens (most are chanteclers) and I think I am starting to get the hang of it. I am posted some pics with my guesses why I think what I do, and if you could let me know if I'm right or way off in left field that would be just awesome!

This is all seven of them:


Left to right, top to bottom: first row: hen; second row: cockerel, hen; third row: cockerel, hen (?), hen, hen (?)






Now, some closeups (Note: the chicks may appear in several photos below, and I am guessing based on the pics only)

Roo - tail feathers & big red comb


Roo on top (comb), roo bottom left (tail feathers), hen


Same two roos as previous pic, hen in background


Roo (big red comb) - also, wow, intense!


Roo (comb), hen


Three hens? Or a roo in the middle? The middle one has a redder comb but wussy tail feathers... And the first one has a perky tail but no protruding comb or red on the face.


Roo (comb)


Top: roo (looks very red in the face); second row: two hens; third row: two roosters (long tail feathers, and bright big comb)


I find it really hard to tell from this view... three hens? Foreground: big *** rooster!

So, Teach, how'd I do?

 

[mandelyn]

I agree. It's a lot easier when they're all the same breed and you have others to compare them to. Hens may go red in the comb early, it happens. But they will not get those two long feathers in their tail. Well, they can, but they'll lack the graceful arch on the end that rooster feathers do.

The ones you said are boys though, I'm pretty well certain are boys. You can really see what you're getting at if you set up two cages, and sort them into the cages. Boys here, girls there. Once you have them sorted, look through them, and see any differences within the gender, and notice the little details between development. This helps to train your eye for early or late bloomers in both genders, and makes it easier to look through a flock without caging them.

When I shop for chicks, I'll pick a girl out first. One that I can just tell for sure is a girl. Then I hold each chick after that to that bird, and pick out what I'm buying. The more you do it, the better you get, and the younger you can sex them. Most breeds I can sex at a day old, in person. Photos make it harder, I can't see the little differences. Rose comb is easier than single comb, and single comb is easier than a pea comb, other comb types I'm not experienced enough with.

Had a 50% error rate when I bought EEs. 90% on everything else I bought. Almost to the reliability of vent sexing.