sexing theory.....and ideas?

[JEB NC 10]

So I think I heard this....female chicks feather out faster than males...can anyone speak to this and offer some advice?

 

[calicokat]

Well, there was a post here somewhere that showed pix of chicks at 2 or 3 days old. The girls had tiny feathers, but on the boys it looked more like dandylion fluff. You might search "feather sexing" and see if it comes up.

We printed the pix and used them to sex our babies this January - and we were 10 for 10! Everyone grew up to be what we sexed them as on day 3. These were polish and one crevacour chix.

 

[debid]

It was not the case for my chicks -- the surprise cockerel feathered out at the same pace as the pullets and he was the same size. The first visual difference was that his comb started to change at 3 weeks.

I've heard (on BYC) that pullets feather faster but I haven't seen this in any of the chicken books I've read

 

[Ariel301]

Feather sexing really only works on a breed or bloodline of chicken that has been selectively bred for this trait. It isn't all that accurate otherwise.