Sexing chicks

[kuchchicks]

Why? This is why.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/how-to-sex-chickens-male-or-female-hen.html

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/determining_sex_in_chicks/

http://scienceblogs.com/twominds/2008/04/14/how-to-sex-a-chick/

Every source I was able to find about this subject recommended vent sexing be left to the pros because the risk to the chick is real AND unless you have been trained to identify the differences in the many different types of vent shapes, you're not likely to be accurate anyways.

Seriously, look at the diagrams of the different chick anatomy variations on the linked pages. There is nothing simple about it!

When someone told me that there was a danger to vent sexing I decided to look into it myself. It ironic because all of the sites/articles that you quoted were the ones that I found as well. I also found that most people that do this type of sexing get 6+months of training. I used to be a labor and delivery nurse. One of my duties was to "check" how far along the mom was. Again this is something that sounds straight forward, but it took me 12 weeks of training to be able to do this with any accuracy. Heck it took me several weeks to just find what I was looking for! For me I finally decided that sexing the chicks (while I would love to know for curiousity sake) is just not that important and I could wait a few weeks to find out.

 

[GuamChicken]

Well, I guess my point is, its easy. Easy for me. So if you don't feel comfortable doing it , then do not do it. It is the only 100 % accurate method. I would say anyone with reasonable tactile skills and knowing how hard you can " squeeze " an animal without obviously hurting them, should have a reasonable chance at being able to use this technique.

 

[Drewnkat]

Quote: There IS NO 100% accurate method!

Even the best pros using this method can only hope to reach 90-95% accuracy. Claiming it's 100% is misleading and confusing.

OK, I lied. The only 100% accurate method is a DNA test, which is cost prohibitive and impractical.

If you want to know from day one what sex your chickens are as an amateur/backyard chicken breeder, the most accurate way is to breed auto-sexing hybrids based on color.

 

[GuamChicken]

No, you are wrong. Are you saying that when a human being is delivered , and a penis is present, or one is not by visually looking , you still can not determine the sex of the baby, you need a DNA test. Maybe if you don't know what you are looking for.

 

[Drewnkat]

Chickens. Do. Not. Have. A. Penis.
http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2012/06/chicken-reproduction.html

. When the cloacae are touched together, sperm is transferred into the female reproductive tract. Since no penetration is involved, the act is simply called a "cloacal kiss."

Seriously, you keep acting like it's this really super easy thing, and we must be stupid if we can't figure it out, when all the evidence presented has been:

It has risks to the chick.
There IS NO penis to check for.
The anatomical variations of chicken sex organs have over 18 different configurations, not two.
Even highly trained chick sexers who do this for a living 5 days a week only manage a 95% success rate at BEST and typical success rate is closer to 90% (which is all the maximum the hatcheries will guarantee).


Look, it's great that it works for you, but it would be irresponsible not to point out the facts of the case, that not everyone will have success with this, and there are risks to the chick so someone choosing to attempt it should proceed with caution and educate themselves before attempting it.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

No, you are wrong. Are you saying that when a human being is delivered , and a penis is present, or one is not by visually looking , you still can not determine the sex of the baby, you need a DNA test. Maybe if you don't know what you are looking for.

Hatcheries that pay PROFESSIONALS that vent sex chicks only have a 90% (on average- across the board) of accuracy.

One of the highest guarenteed I've seen is A&M hatchery at 95% accuracy guarenteed and that was with an expert with 22 years of experience.

No, It's not 100%

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Chickens. Do. Not. Have. A. Penis.
http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2012/06/chicken-reproduction.html

Seriously, you keep acting like it's this really super easy thing, and we must be stupid if we can't figure it out, when all the evidence presented has been:

It has risks to the chick.
There IS NO penis to check for.
The anatomical variations of chicken sex organs have over 18 different configurations, not two.
Even highly trained chick sexers who do this for a living 5 days a week only manage a 95% success rate at BEST and typical success rate is closer to 90% (which is all the maximum the hatcheries will guarantee).


Look, it's great that it works for you, but it would be irresponsible not to point out the facts of the case, that not everyone will have success with this, and there are risks to the chick so someone choosing to attempt it should proceed with caution and educate themselves before attempting it.

Just about any source that you read will stress that vent sexing should only be done by someone that has been trained.

 

[GuamChicken]

Chickens. Do. Not. Have. A. Penis.
http://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2012/06/chicken-reproduction.html

Seriously, you keep acting like it's this really super easy thing, and we must be stupid if we can't figure it out, when all the evidence presented has been:

It has risks to the chick.
There IS NO penis to check for.
The anatomical variations of chicken sex organs have over 18 different configurations, not two.
Even highly trained chick sexers who do this for a living 5 days a week only manage a 95% success rate at BEST and typical success rate is closer to 90% (which is all the maximum the hatcheries will guarantee).


Look, it's great that it works for you, but it would be irresponsible not to point out the facts of the case, that not everyone will have success with this, and there are risks to the chick so someone choosing to attempt it should proceed with caution and educate themselves before attempting it.

Ok, I'm not going to try to convince anyone. I was just imparting my little knowledge in my limited world. So, to sum it up. My sexing of MY chicks is 100%. I have the uncanny ability to handle chicks and check the cloaca without injuring them. So please, nobody else try this. And, for some strange reason, only my chickens have penises, so please don't go looking for one.

There, the argument is over I hope.

 

[jbuzbee]

That's for the info Guam I'm going to give it a shot on the chicks I hatch out myself thanks again for you info

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

No, you are wrong. Are you saying that when a human being is delivered , and a penis is present, or one is not by visually looking , you still can not determine the sex of the baby, you need a DNA test. Maybe if you don't know what you are looking for.

Comparing sexing of humans to that of chickens is using false logic. Perhaps if you have a better understanding of the anatomy of chickens you would be better able to speak from facts.