sexing golden comets and tinted tetras?

[Twolf]

I have golden comets and tinted tetras, so I am told when I purchased them at tractor supply. Any ideas on how to sex these guys? I have a few pic of each, but would love any input.




this is one of my golden comets.



the bunch together

tinted tetra

 

[popsicle]

Were any sold as straight run? Or were they sold as pullets?

Gold Comets are red sex links--the pullets will have redder down and feathers, the cockerels will be yellow/white downed. If they were sold as straight run, the white ones in the bins would be cockerels and the reds pullets.

Tetra tints, will probably develop early, so don't get too worried if the combs start growing earlier than you expected. Right now the one you have pictured looks pulletish to me.

ETA: for pictures of Gold Comets: http://www.cacklehatchery.com/goldencometpage.html

 

[Twolf]

yes, the bin did say pellets, so I assumed I got pellets, but I've heard they may throw in a cockerel here or there. The golden comet I did read that the cockerels will be all yellow and the pellets are yellow and a golden(red) down the back and that is how all mine were. The tinted tetra's are growing much faster, I read they mature quicker and they do have their combs grow in quicker. I believe the Tetras were marked pellet as well.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Tetra Tints (not tinted tetras) are a cross between a white Leghorn and a Rhode Island Red. Because of the Leghorn in their heritage, they will get large red combs much more quickly than other birds, so don't let that scare you. I believe that these are feather-sexable, so the hatchery was probably close to 100% in sexing these chicks and you most likely don't have anything to worry about. I like my Tetra Tints--not the prettiest birds, but they are wonderful layers.

Your Comets are sex-linked birds, so I would be surprised if you got any males. They are easy for the hatchery to sex. If you get a white bird with red patches on its wings, you'll know you got a male. Females will be red all over with white feathers here and there.

 

[Twolf]

Thank you! I am new to the chick raising, and I went by the name i was given, glad to know I've been saying it wrong. lol Sounds great, thank you for your help. I didn't realize the whole sex-linked birds. Good to know.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Tetra is a large, eastern European poultry corporation producing commercial birds. Their parent strains are proprietary, like all such commercial poultry outfits.

These parents strains ceased being breeds, as we know them, a long time ago. Retail hatcheries descriptions of most of the sex links and other commercial egg laying birds is most marketing hyperbole. Don't put a whole lot trust in their descriptions of how these layers are made, using which "breeds". LOL

The fact is these are often wonderful laying birds. The concept of what "breed" they are? The ship sailed many generations back. Enjoy them for what they are. Great laying birds. Often friendly too.