sexing chicks by sounds?

[stcroixusvi]

I saw the post about the possibility of sexing chicks by behavior, but I wonder if you can do it by sounds? Our two roos started making a very different noise early on - 3-4 weeks, maybe, especially our head roo. It was more of a cherp cherp than a peep peep. Any science to back me up??

 

[LarryPQ]

The only reliable sexing is vent sexing, unless the chickens were bred specifically to be sexed by color/feather length.

 

[stcroixusvi]

Quote:
I know this is true, particularly for baby chicks, but I wonder if anyone else hears different sounds coming from their roos long before the saddle or hackle feathers come in.

 

[LarryPQ]

Well, yes. If it crows, it is probably a rooster.

I have had banty roos crow as early as 10 days, but then it didn't happen again for a while. My silkie and D'uccle roos start trying to crow between 3 and 5 weeks---which sucks when you are brooding them indoors.

 

[stcroixusvi]

It's not a crowing, but a different chirp. And it is not a crowing to alarm or sound, just a noise that the birds make as they putter around the coop. Crowing isn't exactly chatting. The sounds these boys have made since early on is more of a chatter.

 

[sourland]

"Sound sexing of chicks"---Guaranteed! (50% successful)

 

[LarryPQ]

I am giving you a hard time now... lol!

No, sound sexing is only going to make you crazy. But you keep listening, because eventually, in 12 weeks or so, you'll be able to tell the boys from girls