Sexing Brahma chicks

[FirstTimeBYC]

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.

thanks that reassuring

 

[3KillerBs]

thanks that reassuring

I had a Light Brahma among my in-town chickens that turned out to be a rooster. I was still wondering about a week after "the red boys" (my packing peanuts), had gone to freezer camp. Finally I saw him flaring his hackles. Eventually he crowed.

 

[black_cat]

I understand. That's my problem since I only have one chick per breed, I can't do this... unless there is a standard feathering chart available somewhere to compare to.

At this time the only info I found was to wait for tail feathers to see if they are pointy or round and to check the redness of the comb. Yet without comparison/experience it is not easy.

You're not looking at tail feathers, but saddle feathers, which are the feathers at the base of a chicken's tail. Roosters have long, pointy saddle feathers, and hens have short, round ones.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

You're not looking at tail feathers, but saddle feathers, which are the feathers at the base of a chicken's tail. Roosters have long, pointy saddle feathers, and hens have short, round ones.
View attachment 2233737

thanks!!

 

[black_cat]

thanks!!

No problem!

 

[esme13]

My personal photos of 13 week Brahma for you to see what it looks like as it gets older. She is a pullet, pale comb , very tiny wattle development very funny molting. Lower in my little groups pecking order.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

My personal photos of 13 week Brahma for you to see what it looks like as it gets older. She is a pullet, pale comb , very tiny wattle development very funny molting. Lower in my little groups pecking order.

She is gorgeous.
Thanks you. That helps!

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

Update. 10 days later. Still looking to sex my chicks. Close to 5week-old now.
I attached three pict of the brahma and what i am expected to be a pullet speckled sussex and a pullet easter egger.
Any opinion welcome!

 

[Finnie]

Hi all,
We are new to BYC and we just started our flock with 4 hens : one Speckled Sussex, one Easter Egger and two Brahmas (a buff and a gold laced).
We clearly notice that the Brahma are feathering much much slower than the other breeds.
While we were sold 4 hens, we are concerned now that the Brahma might be cockerels.
I put the Speckled Sussex picture for comparison.
They are all 3 weeks old.
Any expert that could help us?
Let me know if you need more specific pictures of the Brahmas.


View attachment 2233045View attachment 2233046View attachment 2233056

See those bare fluff patches on their shoulders in the 3-week old pictures? That is a classic sign of a cockerel, especially if it comes with short stubby or nonexistent tail feathers. This is different than the “slow or fast growing feather” gene. That gene applies to the primary feathers on the wings.

What I’m seeing on your pictures at 3 weeks old is two cockerels. (And the SS pullet.) This is confirmed by your 5 week old photos, where they look very much like cockerels. I’m sorry.

 

[FirstTimeBYC]

See those bare fluff patches on their shoulders in the 3-week old pictures? That is a classic sign of a cockerel, especially if it comes with short stubby or nonexistent tail feathers. This is different than the “slow or fast growing feather” gene. That gene applies to the primary feathers on the wings.

What I’m seeing on your pictures at 3 weeks old is two cockerels. (And the SS pullet.) This is confirmed by your 5 week old photos, where they look very much like cockerels. I’m sorry.

Tyvm. And the SS does like a pullet in your opinion?