Sexing Brahma chicks

[esme13]

My Brahma was slow to feather out. At 3 months all of my new flock have molted and she still looks in distress with her feather growth. She took awhile to grow, but she is a bigger girl and I am still waiting on some tail feathers they seem to just grow slower. I usually wait 6 weeks to have a clearer look at their combs if wondering on gender. We’re your chicks sexed before purchased ?

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

My Brahma was slow to feather out. At 3 months all of my new flock have molted and she still looks in distress with her feather growth. She took awhile to grow, but she is a bigger girl and I am still waiting on some tail feathers they seem to just grow slower. I usually wait 6 weeks to have a clearer look at their combs if wondering on gender. We’re your chicks sexed before purchased ?

They were all sexes hens, but the farmer seemed to guesstimate based on the length of the wing feathers.

Because we are in a residential area (no roo allowed) and the kids are getting attached to those birds, I am trying to determine asap if I can relax or if you will have to giveaway one (hopefully not more) of them.

 

[esme13]

They were all sexes hens, but the farmer seemed to guesstimate based on the length of the wing feathers.

Because we are in a residential area (no roo allowed) and the kids are getting attached to those birds, I am trying to determine asap if I can relax or if you will have to giveaway one (hopefully not more) of them.

If you are alright with waiting and keeping us updated with photos will do our best to help, I’d say the earliest to have a better understanding will be 6 weeks. Photos of comb/ front view and side view. Also keep an eye on their disposition and if any stand proudly and act more dominant. Now a hen can be dominant too, lol. Hopefully the farmer gave your girls

I raised a silkie and couldn’t wait the 6 months and did a dna test, I totally understand.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

If you are alright with waiting and keeping us updated with photos will do our best to help, I’d say the earliest to have a better understanding will be 6 weeks. Photos of comb/ front view and side view. Also keep an eye on their disposition and if any stand proudly and act more dominant. Now a hen can be dominant too, lol. Hopefully the farmer gave your girls

I raised a silkie and couldn’t wait the 6 months and did a dna test, I totally understand.

Wait waaaaat, you can dna test your flock? How does on do that?

 

[esme13]

Wait waaaaat, you can dna test your flock? How does on do that?

Yes , that’s how they always sell dna tested birds in the pet stores. I don’t remember the sites, but an internet search on dna testing birds will bring up some options. It costed me a little bit, I think I spent 17 dollars, but I only had one silkie and was desperate to know lol. It’s a toe nail clip and a little blood on a piece of paper that you send in. It is crazy how they do it!

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

Yes , that’s how they always sell dna tested birds in the pet stores. I don’t remember the sites, but an internet search on dna testing birds will bring up some options. It costed me a little bit, I think I spent 17 dollars, but I only had one silkie and was desperate to know lol. It’s a toe nail clip and a little blood on a piece of paper that you send in. It is crazy how they do it!

TY.

 

[CrazyCochin]

Where did you get those chicks? We have have the 3 standard Brahma colors, light, buff, and dark.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

Where did you get those chicks? We have have the 3 standard Brahma colors, light, buff, and dark.

The sussex and the egger were bought from a hatchery where they are 90% sure of their sexing.
The two brahmas are from a local farm where they gave us their best guess.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

they are from 6/15, so they are just 3 weeks old

 

[3KillerBs]

How were they sexed?

Vent sexed at the hatchery.

Brahmas develop slowly and only time can confirm the hatchery's verdict.

The slow vs fast feathering thing only works for certain strains -- it's a trait that can be bred in or bred out.