- May 9, 2011
- 12
- 2
- 22
Here's what I've figured out about sexing with my own chicks. I thought I'd share in case it might help someone else out.
I got my silverlaced wyandotte chick at 1 week old. Based on what I read about feather sexing, and our previously successful attempts at pubic bone testing, we were fairly certain that Juneau was probably a girl. The rate and location of feather growth seemed to be on par with what I've read from others who have been able to use feathers as a gender test.
By the time Juneau was about 3 weeks, I was noticing some behaviors my hens had not exhibited at the same age, even the queen of the roost. Juneau stood more erect, his scraggly little tail was generally held up, and he frequently asserted himself over his broodmate, Sakura (a white silkie pullet 1 week older but the same size). By asserted I mean he'd push her around, he'd hop/fly at her, etc. There was a lot of posturing but nothing violent or mean. My dominant hen did not start getting pushy with the other girls till she was much older. Juneau was the same size as Sakura but taller because of his carriage. At this point, we also noticed that his comb area was very large, but still no more than a faint pink, so we still weren't positive. The wattles were coming in but weren't huge.
By 4 weeks, my husband took a closer look at him and declared him a roo. His comb had become a definite red, and his wattles were coming in fast. The wattles were very definitely red too. When people tell you that pullets have smaller, yellower/paler combs than roos at the same age, it's true! And it's definitely more obvious than you might think just from reading about it. For me, once I saw it for myself, I got it. But at the time, I really wasn't sure (partly wishful thinking--I wanted him to be a her!!!). Then my husband pointed out something I couldn't refute....on Juneau's legs were tiny little spur buds, like little warts on the insides of his legs. I've read a lot about how to sex on this site, but for some reason I've never seen anyone mention this. Spurs have to come in some time, right? And I knew that NONE of our girls had those little bumps on their legs.
Long story short, we can't have roos where we are, so we took him back to the ranch were we got him to exchange for a pullet. Once we could see him with the girls his age, it was clear he was a boy. His comb by comparison was very red, and our new girl's is smaller and yellow. She has almost no wattles compared to him.
I meant to take some pics of his comb and especially of the little pre-spur bumps, but I got busy and forgot. Hopefully this is of some help though.
I got my silverlaced wyandotte chick at 1 week old. Based on what I read about feather sexing, and our previously successful attempts at pubic bone testing, we were fairly certain that Juneau was probably a girl. The rate and location of feather growth seemed to be on par with what I've read from others who have been able to use feathers as a gender test.
By the time Juneau was about 3 weeks, I was noticing some behaviors my hens had not exhibited at the same age, even the queen of the roost. Juneau stood more erect, his scraggly little tail was generally held up, and he frequently asserted himself over his broodmate, Sakura (a white silkie pullet 1 week older but the same size). By asserted I mean he'd push her around, he'd hop/fly at her, etc. There was a lot of posturing but nothing violent or mean. My dominant hen did not start getting pushy with the other girls till she was much older. Juneau was the same size as Sakura but taller because of his carriage. At this point, we also noticed that his comb area was very large, but still no more than a faint pink, so we still weren't positive. The wattles were coming in but weren't huge.
By 4 weeks, my husband took a closer look at him and declared him a roo. His comb had become a definite red, and his wattles were coming in fast. The wattles were very definitely red too. When people tell you that pullets have smaller, yellower/paler combs than roos at the same age, it's true! And it's definitely more obvious than you might think just from reading about it. For me, once I saw it for myself, I got it. But at the time, I really wasn't sure (partly wishful thinking--I wanted him to be a her!!!). Then my husband pointed out something I couldn't refute....on Juneau's legs were tiny little spur buds, like little warts on the insides of his legs. I've read a lot about how to sex on this site, but for some reason I've never seen anyone mention this. Spurs have to come in some time, right? And I knew that NONE of our girls had those little bumps on their legs.
Long story short, we can't have roos where we are, so we took him back to the ranch were we got him to exchange for a pullet. Once we could see him with the girls his age, it was clear he was a boy. His comb by comparison was very red, and our new girl's is smaller and yellow. She has almost no wattles compared to him.
I meant to take some pics of his comb and especially of the little pre-spur bumps, but I got busy and forgot. Hopefully this is of some help though.
