Quick Question.....

[krista74]

I have a 3 day old chick, whose Momma is a RIR and Father is a BO.

Are there any markings that might indicate sex in this type of cross, or is it a matter of waiting until he/she is 3 months old and evaluating feathers, feet and stance etc?

(Out of interest, he/she is an orangey-yellow colour with a little brown smudge on the forehead, down the back and across the wing - so sweet!)

Thanks in advance,

Krista

 

[Areolyn]

You'll probably have to wait out 3 months, unless it would turn out to be a red sex link(which is possible).

Or they could be like comets, but you can probably sex it like a sex link. Try this link too:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/261208/sex-linked-information

 

[Wyandottes7]

You probably won't be able to tell the gender for at least eight weeks, as a chick with those parents won't be sex-linked. If "it" develops a large red comb early, it is likely a male. Thick legs and a tall stance can also be indicators of a male. However, it will take a while to definitively know whether it is a pullet or not.

 

[krista74]

Thank you! I guess it will be a matter of 'wait and see' for now.

I am reasonably good at determining gender at 3 months, particularly since I am familiar with the two breeds involved.

The good news is that either way the chick will have a good home - If it's a pullet, I'm keeping it, and if it's a cockerel my brother is looking for a new rooster, so it's all good!

It will be interesting to see how this little chick grows out. I've never had chickens before and this was my very first hatch - 'Peepers' is the only one who made it out alive.

I am hoping for better results with Broody #2 in 18 days time. I'm worried Peepers is lonely so I 'need' at least one more chick to 'keep him company.'

Chicken math at it's best!

- Krista

 

[Michael OShay]

You probably won't be able to tell the gender for at least eight weeks, as a chick with those parents won't be sex-linked. If "it" develops a large red comb early, it is likely a male. Thick legs and a tall stance can also be indicators of a male. However, it will take a while to definitively know whether it is a pullet or not.

X2 on that. Sex linked offspring require a hen with either a silver gene or a barred gene, neither of which BOs have.

 

[Michael OShay]

X2 on that. Sex linked offspring require a hen with either a silver gene or a barred gene, neither of which BOs have.

Correction, neither does the RIR have the silver or barred gene.

 

[BantamLover21]

You probably won't be able to tell the gender for at least eight weeks, as a chick with those parents won't be sex-linked. If "it" develops a large red comb early, it is likely a male. Thick legs and a tall stance can also be indicators of a male. However, it will take a while to definitively know whether it is a pullet or not.

x3