Oh no!! Do only roosters fight like this? 5 and 6 weeks

[bruceha2000]

Your first batch of chicks will drive you nuts.
This one is bigger than the other of the same breed, tail isn't filling out as fast. Boy? Girl?

All 12 of my 2012's were girls but I sweated every difference (2 each of 6 breeds), every "is that comb a LITTLE red?" "Is that one feathering faster than this one?"

I did better in 2015 knowing they are different even when the same breed. Trouble the 2017 Barnevelder 'oops' cockerel was SO obvious at 3 weeks. No need to sweat the boy/girl thing , it was a done deal.

 

[TheDirtyLawyer]

Your first batch of chicks will drive you nuts.
This one is bigger than the other of the same breed, tail isn't filling out as fast. Boy? Girl?

All 12 of my 2012's were girls but I sweated every difference (2 each of 6 breeds), every "is that comb a LITTLE red?" "Is that one feathering faster than this one?"

I did better in 2015 knowing they are different even when the same breed. Trouble the 2017 Barnevelder 'oops' cockerel was SO obvious at 3 weeks. No need to sweat the boy/girl thing , it was a done deal.

Yes! This is making me a crazy person! especially since I rolled the dice w straight runs bc someone who probably doesn't know anything told me about feather sexing and eye make up ... which I over applied to breeds that it probably can't be used on! All this with plans to sell eggs ... and kids who will get attached to the chickens lol everyday I just stare at them suspiciously....

 

[bruceha2000]

I believe there are only a few breeds that can be feather sexed. And eye makeup doesn't mean a thing. Andromeda had it, Persephone didn't (2012 EEs). Lots of sexing methods are smoke and mirrors. For example it is claimed that in Welsummers a distinct V on a chick means pullet, no V means cockerel. Bull. I had one of each pattern last April and they were both girls.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

So glad to hear it wasn't just me who looked at them multiple times a day hoping for some sign of gender.

 

[TheDirtyLawyer]

I believe there are only a few breeds that can be feather sexed. And eye makeup doesn't mean a thing. Andromeda had it, Persephone didn't (2012 EEs). Lots of sexing methods are smoke and mirrors. For example it is claimed that in Welsummers a distinct V on a chick means pullet, no V means cockerel. Bull. I had one of each pattern last April and they were both girls.

Nooo!!! I'm relying on that v thing! Lol

 

[Jamie Molihan]

This is what I know for sure to be almost completely close to accurate.....if it starts crowing, it a boy....if it starts laying eggs it a good bet it’s a girl. I don’t think that crowing this is 100% though. I will bet you can find someone in your area who will take the boys off your hands, then you can tell your kids they went to live at a farm, an it won’t be a full on lie.

 

[aart]

Those are great photos in your first post!
Yes, pullets will spar like that even when 3 months old.

With most breeds the color and size of combs and wattles at 4-8 weeks tells the tale.
..or you'll just have to wait until 3-4 months when the hackle and saddle feathers come in.

I bred sexlinks this year BCMxCCL, the white spot on head was pretty obvious on most as soon as they are good and dry. I called it 'Early Disappointment', haha! But I guess it's better than waiting 6 weeks to know how many males will end up in the freezer.
I hatched non-sexlinks too tho so still have to wait for those to show.

 

[bruceha2000]

This is what I know for sure to be almost completely close to accurate.....if it starts crowing, it a boy....if it starts laying eggs it a good bet it’s a girl. I don’t think that crowing this is 100% though. I will bet you can find someone in your area who will take the boys off your hands, then you can tell your kids they went to live at a farm, an it won’t be a full on lie.

Pretty much true though I had a hen that started a 2 note crow when she was a couple of years old. I wasn't too worried since she was my best layer. She hardly ever made "normal chicken noises". Squeals, bugles, whistles, sure but about the only chicken noise she made was the egg song and that crow.

Nooo!!! I'm relying on that v thing! Lol

Well since we KNOW it is a FACT, Betty's replacement (which I'm going to call Betty since one can't have a Veronica without a Betty) is definitely a girl. Unfortunately it doesn't show in any of the 4 pictures I took this morning. She's the one on the left partway in the MHP cave.

 

[TheDirtyLawyer]

Pretty much true though I had a hen that started a 2 note crow when she was a couple of years old. I wasn't too worried since she was my best layer. She hardly ever made "normal chicken noises". Squeals, bugles, whistles, sure but about the only chicken noise she made was the egg song and that crow.


Well since we KNOW it is a FACT, Betty's replacement (which I'm going to call Betty since one can't have a Veronica without a Betty) is definitely a girl. Unfortunately it doesn't show in any of the 4 pictures I took this morning. She's the one on the left partway in the MHP cave.
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Ha ha! They're so cute and they all look like girls to me ... until they don't!