Please Help Identify Breed and Gender

[LadiesAndJane]

Thank you for your response. They came from a school hatching project so I have no idea. All of their legs look the same to me except the black/white ones have a blueish hue running down the fronts. I don’t see any feathers on their legs. I think they are Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Barred Rocks. This is all new to me. I have a home for 1 rooster and I can keep 1 or 2 as long as I have enough hens for them. That is why I am trying to get an idea of what I have. I need to prepare. They sure are adorable…that is the only thing certain right now.

So they are likely mixes of the breeds you mentioned. All good layers. They are all single combed breeds, so they will be very easy to tell male from female at about six weeks of age.

 

[10LilChicks]

Feather sexing is more or less a wives tale that forever circulates, it has to be bred for, it doesn't apply to 90% of chicks.
Too early to tell either with certainty. Repost pictures in 6 weeks.

Hi! What part of the chicks do people need to see in 6 weeks that will help determine the genders?

 

[nuthatched]

Hi! What part of the chicks do people need to see in 6 weeks that will help determine the genders?

Their faces, if the comb and wattles are getting pronounced and pink, they are likely cockerels.

 

[10LilChicks]

Hi! I have 10 little egg laying chicks. They are 5-6 days old. I think I know their breeds and genders, but need your help to be certain. Number 10 is tiny and feisty so I wasn’t able to get a very good picture of its wings. Thanks for your help!

These chicks are 2.5 weeks old now. It is hard to believe how quickly they are growing. Here are updated pics of them. I have noticed that the breeds each have different personalities. The WL’s are very friendly with people, the RIR’s are a bit indifferent towards people, and the BR’s run away from me while screaming bloody murder! I know it is still too early to sex them, but take a look at the pics. The WL with the large red comb…I’m thinking is definitely a male. He has had this comb for about 4-5 days now and he always flies out of the brooder and sits on the ledge when I lift up the screen. The other WL on my hand does the same thing. Is this a gender specific behavior? Check out the RIR with no tail…this one also flies up and sits on the ledge. It also likes to sit on top of the feeder. I’m still thinking this one is a male too. I’m at a loss with the BR’s. The little one has always been so tiny and just seems to be developing at a slower rate.

 

[FunClucks]

These chicks are 2.5 weeks old now. It is hard to believe how quickly they are growing. Here are updated pics of them. I have noticed that the breeds each have different personalities. The WL’s are very friendly with people, the RIR’s are a bit indifferent towards people, and the BR’s run away from me while screaming bloody murder! I know it is still too early to sex them, but take a look at the pics. The WL with the large red comb…I’m thinking is definitely a male. He has had this comb for about 4-5 days now and he always flies out of the brooder and sits on the ledge when I lift up the screen. The other WL on my hand does the same thing. Is this a gender specific behavior? Check out the RIR with no tail…this one also flies up and sits on the ledge. It also likes to sit on top of the feeder. I’m still thinking this one is a male too. I’m at a loss with the BR’s. The little one has always been so tiny and just seems to be developing at a slower rate.

I have all females (pretty sure, they were all but one sexed as pullets), and two of the definite females like to fly up and sit on the edge of the brooder. I found personality determined how they liked to fly up and whether they liked me or not more than breed, but my prairie blue bell is definitely more flighty than my ISA browns and buff orpingtons, and my starlight green egger is less fond of me than the others (per breeder description). I've gotten my prairie bluebell and green egger to calm down and be more relaxed around me with consistent calm handling. Takes a few weeks, but be persistent and slow and try not to scare them. Around 3 wks I started given them a bit of chick grit mixed in their feed and soldier fly larvae/mealworms (1 larvae per bird twice a day) - treats helped them see me as a positive presence. Also they like to perch on my warm hand. I'm new to chickens, so don't take my word about on treats, you might want to research that yourself - I check for crop emptying every day, add apple cider vinegar and electrolytes/probiotics to their water, and feed just enough treat for excitement. Good luck!

 

[Chicken poppy]

Feather sexing is more or less a wives tale that forever circulates, it has to be bred for, it doesn't apply to 90% of chicks.
Too early to tell either with certainty. Repost pictures in 6 weeks.

It would also have to be within a certain age period.

 

[10LilChicks]

I have all females (pretty sure, they were all but one sexed as pullets), and two of the definite females like to fly up and sit on the edge of the brooder. I found personality determined how they liked to fly up and whether they liked me or not more than breed, but my prairie blue bell is definitely more flighty than my ISA browns and buff orpingtons, and my starlight green egger is less fond of me than the others (per breeder description). I've gotten my prairie bluebell and green egger to calm down and be more relaxed around me with consistent calm handling. Takes a few weeks, but be persistent and slow and try not to scare them. Around 3 wks I started given them a bit of chick grit mixed in their feed and soldier fly larvae/mealworms (1 larvae per bird twice a day) - treats helped them see me as a positive presence. Also they like to perch on my warm hand. I'm new to chickens, so don't take my word about on treats, you might want to research that yourself - I check for crop emptying every day, add apple cider vinegar and electrolytes/probiotics to their water, and feed just enough treat for excitement. Good luck!

Thanks for your response! All of the chicks have warmed up to me now that they have gotten a bit older. The WL’s are the most social. They fly and land on my hand, arm, or chest. I got these chicks from an embryology school project so it is very likely that I have pullets and cockerels. I can’t wait until I am able to determine their genders!

 

[KHoward]

I think I see two cockerels; the barred rock and the austra white drinking from the waterer. Closeups of the combs would be good if you can post again.