Sexing a buff Orpington chick (more photos

[The Moonshiner]

 

[MROO]

Ya’ll are telling me there’s almost no reliable ways to tell the gender

Unfortunately, unless you have an auto-sexing breed, the only truly reliable way to tell the gender is to wait and see. Even professionals get it wrong, sometimes ... which is why so many of us end up with surprise cockerels in pullet orders!

 

[Seaslug]

And it depends on the breed. There are some breeds that have hens with large combs and wattles AND the pullets can develop those combs and wattles at an early age. BUT 4 weeks is REALLY early.

Like MROO said, sexing a chick isn't always easy and auto-sexing and sex linked traits have to be developed and maintained carefully.

 

[NorthernHomestead]

I have egg-laying hens with combs and wattles that rival some roos. The most reliable way to tell is to see it mount another chicken (could be either gender on the bottom, tbh - I've seen both). Nobody really sticks by a chicken to see if an eggs falls out though that's another way.

 

[The Moonshiner]

The most reliable way to tell is to see it mount another chicken (could be either gender on the bottom, tbh - I've seen both). Nobody really sticks by a chicken to see if an eggs falls out though that's another way.

You're right I don't usually stick by a chicken to see if an egg falls out but I don't stick by them to see who mounts who either.

 

[NorthernHomestead]

You're right I don't usually stick by a chicken to see if an egg falls out but I don't stick by them to see who mounts who either.

I truly, TRULY wish my young roos were polite enough to not do this a few feet in front of me (or just outside my sliding glass door in the morning). I'm not that fortunate. And if I were ever to be struck blind? No worries - they aren't quiet about it, either. :-/

 

[FrostRanger]

I have egg-laying hens with combs and wattles that rival some roos. The most reliable way to tell is to see it mount another chicken (could be either gender on the bottom, tbh - I've seen both). Nobody really sticks by a chicken to see if an eggs falls out though that's another way.

Especially dominant females will mount others too, although admittedly it's not terribly common in pullets that age

 

[MROO]

I truly, TRULY wish my young roos were polite enough to not do this a few feet in front of me (or just outside my sliding glass door in the morning). I'm not that fortunate. And if I were ever to be struck blind? No worries - they aren't quiet about it, either. :-/

Just be grateful they're not courting you feet. Now THAT was weird!