Sexing Week and a Half Old Chicks

[andrew3waz]

Hey,
I have 25 Chicks and I would like to see how many hens and rosters I have. what is the best way to sex a chicks that old?

Thanks,
andrew3waz

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Well, you're past the window for vent sexing (which is super hard anyway) and its too early for any physical characteristic to point towards gender. At this points your options are:
1) DNA sexing- which involves getting a blood sample, sending it to a lab and waiting for results. Oh, and a fee of course
2) Wait it out- which is what most of us do
Good luck, I know its hard to wait on them, but they'll make themselves known soon enough!

 

[andrew3waz]

Well, you're past the window for vent sexing (which is super hard anyway) and its too early for any physical characteristic to point towards gender. At this points your options are:
1) DNA sexing- which involves getting a blood sample, sending it to a lab and waiting for results. Oh, and a fee of course

2) Wait it out- which is what most of us do

Good luck, I know its hard to wait on them, but they'll make themselves known soon enough!

How long do I have to wait to see any physical characteristics?

I am very eager!!!!

Thanks,andrew3waz

 

[Fred's Hens]

Andrew. Glad you're excited. Hens and Roosters are terms for year old adults. Juvenile birds are either cockerels or pullets. The cockerels on many, many breeds display secondary sex characteristic a whole sooner than pullets.

At 6 weeks, look for protruding red combs and small red wattles begining to appear under the beaks. On most breeds, the females, the pullets, just won't show much of any comb redness nor wattles until much, much closer to beginning to lay.

There are some other things to note, as you observe them. The cockerels often have longer bones in their legs and the legs are often thicker as well. Behavioral difference also give clues. But those behavioral difference come later.

 

[AfewBricks]

Andrew.  Glad you're excited.  Hens and Roosters are terms for year old adults.  Juvenile birds are either cockerels or pullets.  The cockerels on many, many breeds display secondary sex characteristic a whole sooner than pullets.

At 6 weeks, look for protruding red combs and small red wattles begining to appear under the beaks.  On most breeds, the females, the pullets, just won't show much of any comb redness nor wattles until much, much closer to beginning to lay.

There are some other things to note, as you observe them.  The cockerels often have longer bones in their legs and the legs are often thicker as well.  Behavioral difference also give clues. But those behavioral difference come later.  

I'm afraid that 3 of my 4 sizzle chicks are cockerals I love them all so much, but can't keep the boys. They are about 3 weeks old. Is chest bumping one of the behavioural characteristics of cockerals? What are the characteristics you're referring to? Thanks

 

[bugglesmommy]

You can't sex a chick on behavior alone. Pullets can also chest bump and boss around. Heck, some hens even crow! I would hate for you to rehome a pullet on accident. Post some pics.

 

[AfewBricks]

This is Carla. The boss, the leader, steals anything interesting from the others. Very difficult to photograph lol

 

[AfewBricks]

Carla again

 

[AfewBricks]

This is Fe. Fe and Carla are the most dominating. They chest bump all day long.

 

[AfewBricks]

Here's Fe again. They move so much. I can get better pics with my camera, this is just from my phone.