Nugget and Sonny!

[Katiestraut]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and hoping I posted this in the correct area! We added two chicks to our family yesterday, Nugget and Sonny!

I had many chickens and ducks growing up, but never had to try sexing them (now I live in a city and Roos are a no-no!) I have never vent-sexed and didn't want to try and risk Injury to the little guys. So, did a little googling and gave it my best shot selecting these two by sight. I know that it's a crapshoot Roos will go to grandmas farm to become supper so I have my fingers crossed! Hoping some of you more experienced chick keepers out there can shed some light. How did I do??

First up is Sonny, the barred rock. Approximately 5 days old. The head dot seemed best defined out of the bunch (to me)

Also, 'her' coat seemed darker black, though you can still see it's a little grey.
He legs displayed some of the dark leg wash

I'm not sure how to guess by wing feathers, but hear its possible so here is a pic of her developing feathers!

Next up is nugget. 'She' is a amerachauna (spelling?) I know that they are nearly impossible to tell by sight, but. Went with the wives tale of females feathering out sooner than the others.

Here is a top view

And her wings!

I know there is no guarantee but waiting to see, but would love if some of you experienced keepers could give it a guess

 

[roostersandhens]

I think you selected 2 breeds that cannot be vent sexed, since only one breed can be. The sex-link. Nothing shouts male on either of them, which is good. Time will tell their gender for sure. Just for the future, if you ever get more chicks, try selecting the ones with longer tails and wing feathers, because those are most likely to be females.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Welcome to BYC!

If you picked the smallest, tightest head spot for your BR, that was the best you could do.

As for the Easter Egger (I know it was sold to you as an Ameraucana, but unfortunately it is not), Nugget is far too young to sex. Once it has all its true feathers you'll be able to sex it by color. If it gets dark red feathers coming in on the shoulders, it is male. Here's a photo to help you out. The solid red feathers coming in are a dead give-away that this is a boy. The chick was six or seven weeks old.

 

[Katiestraut]

Thank you so much for your help! Crossing my fingers! I will keep an eye out for those red feathers.

 

[donrae]

I think you selected 2 breeds that cannot be vent sexed, since only one breed can be. The sex-link. Nothing shouts male on either of them, which is good. Time will tell their gender for sure. Just for the future, if you ever get more chicks, try selecting the ones with longer tails and wing feathers, because those are most likely to be females.

I know that has to be a typo, cause you know better

I'm thinking you meant sight sexed?

I have a hard time sexing one barred bird by the head spot. Give me a group and I can usually pick out the males, but not so much with a single bird, sorry.

Good news is both these breeds pretty much declare themselves by 6 weeks. I know that may seem forever, but by then you'll know for sure.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Just for the future, if you ever get more chicks, try selecting the ones with longer tails and wing feathers, because those are most likely to be females.

IF and only if the chicks you're looking at are fast-feathering females. Males do not always feather slower, and in fact feather-sexable chicks are out of a FAST-feathering male and slow feathering female.

I always discourage people from using feather length to sex chickens. Unless the chick is specifically bred to be feather sexed, you'll have the same chances of being right as if you hung your wedding ring on a string above them to see which way it swings. In my flock, I'd say about 1 in 20 males feathers more slowly than the females, and the rest feather at the same rate.

 

[Katiestraut]

I had to quick update! Both chicks turned out to be hens and are now great pets/layers!

 

[BantamLover21]

Thanks for the update!