Sexing 6 chicks (hope we have pullets)

[chickeepoo]

After reading some posts on sexing chicks and seeing pics, I'm wondering what I have… I was hoping 6 pullets, but what do you all think? The seller was looking at their little wings to try to tell when I bought them 2 1/2 weeks ago. There's a Light Brahma, Buff Orp, Cuckoo Maran, BLR, Ameraucana, and I hope a Black Copper Maran (but she has a lot of brown in her wings now?). They're a few days apart in age.

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[krazycow6]

Could be wrong, but my guess is 2,4,5 are roos.

 

[chickeepoo]

How do you tell? I look and all I see are … chicks!

 

[BarkerChickens]

It is too early to tell. Usually you need to wait until they 4 weeks old. Boys usually don't grow out their shoulder feathers as fast (compared to girls), but it is not 100%. Additionally, boys usually have thicker legs, but again, not 100%. However, around 4 weeks old, the boys will start getting pink in their combs...that is 100%. Girls will not have pink anywhere near that young.

 

[Laney]

I agree on 2 and 5 being Roo's. I'm not familiar with the breed of #4, but I don't see anything there that screams Roo to me. 2 and 5 both have those thick Roo legs and 5 has the Posture of a Roo down pat.

Laney

 

[chickeepoo]

Thanks for the input- I was afraid this might happen! The man I bought them from (and he has HUNDREDS, and I can't count the breeds) was counting rows of starter fuzz where feathers would grow to try to separate hens and roos. He did say I could swap out any roos for hens, but they won't be 4 weeks until at least next week. Those pink combs should tell-all by then! I was REALLY hoping the BLR Bluebell is a hen- "she's" a sweetie-, and I'm pretty attached already to Klondike the Lt Brahma- "she's" the first one out to perch on my hand every day when I change water and clean up the brooder cage. The BO and Ameraucana act like I'm killing them every time they get picked up! And the Cuckoo Maran is kind of the same…

 

[Jen71]

I feel for you! I am going through the same thing with my 4 week olds...hoping they are all pullets because I can't bear to get rid of one if it's a roo.
My fingers are crossed for you that they are not roos!
Good luck.

 

[fastpat]

Roosters begin to grow their combs earlier than pullets, that's the only reliable early gender indication I know of. It appears to me that the chicks in photos one and three are roosters.

 

[krazycow6]

At this age I would say tail feather length is a much more reliable way of sexing, the longer tail feathers being pullets. It really is hard to tell by the comb.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I agree also.