Swedish Flower

[Lkaiser]

Just got these little ones. They are 3-4 weeks old. Any guesses as to whether they are boys or girls? What are the obvious external characteristics to look for at this age and/or over the next few weeks?

 

[winglesschicken]

Are there only two of them?

I'm going to assume there are two, lol.

So, the light-colored one looks like a hen to me. Looks similar to one of the chicks that I have who is a hen. Though they're probably different breeds, so their stature, wing shape, and tail may be different and mean different things.

The darker colored one looks like a hen in the face, but the tail is a bit poofier and sticks up more, so they could possibly be a rooster.

To me, they both look like hens. However, I don't have a very aged ability to tell in chicks, so I may be wrong! I hope this helped, though.

Edit: Also, watch their combs and how they hold themselves. See which way their tails seem to grow out and the kinds of feathers that are growing in!

 

[Lkaiser]

You sound like an expert to me! (Because that’s what I was hoping for)

Yes there are just two. One brown and one black. Couldn’t get the best picture of the brown ones comb but it’s similar to the other - small, yellow/pale. I’ll check the rail feathers of both to see if their posture is different. Could be the camera angle.

 

[Wezdin]

IMO It's too early to tell for sure, but I'm leaning towards pullets.

 

[Gray Farms]

Much to young to sex just now

 

[Lkaiser]

Much to young to sex just now

What characteristics are reliable
and at what age do they develop? I’ve been reading on the forums and people generally tend to focus on comb size and color, but I’m guessing they are too young yet to start displaying the more obvious cockerel characteristics?

 

[Gray Farms]

Significant comb and wattle development 6 weeks or younger are the only reliable sign of sexing young chicks. Other than breeds/patterns that are different for each sex of course.

 

[Lkaiser]

Significant comb and wattle development 6 weeks or younger are the only reliable sign of sexing young chicks. Other than breeds/patterns that are different for each sex of course.

Ok thank you! I’ll keep checking them.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I have a few 8 week old Swedish Flowers currently. And a 6 month old cockerel. The biggest giveaway on cockerels for me was the size of the legs. The boys seem to grow upwards and grow fast compared to the pullets. Their combs lie to you until they’re about 6 to 7 weeks.

4 week old cockerel w/out crest

Him around 7ish weeks

4 week old pullet with w/crest

Sadly, no photos of her at 7 weeks. Hawk took her two weeks ago.

Crested cockerel at 4 weeks

Crested at 7ish weeks

Couple more weeks and you’ll know for sure.

 

[Uff Da]

I have a similar breed, Icelandics. I can often tell starting as early as two weeks, but sometimes it takes me until six weeks. I look at the color and size of the combs and wattles. Boys will be not just larger but pinker. The wattles are more reliable than the comb, because sometimes I will get a pullet with a larger comb. I will get a picture of my 4-weekers tomorrow to show you.