The basics to identify the gender of a chicken. Some kind of list?????

[kmakani]

Hi there!
I was searching for a general question about way to identify the gender of chickens without any luck. I was hoping to find differnt ways or a list that one could look at a chicken and figure things out (color of comb, feet, flip the little one upside down?, I don't know) If there are specific ways for all chickens in figuring this out I would appreciate it. I have 9 chickens and only know I have one 1 roo for sure. Thank you and Aloha!!!!!!!!

 

[k2chickens]

I've heard and looked at so many but so far I have gone by:

1. If you turn them upside down and they struggle they are cockerels and if they don't they are pullets.

2. Checking combs to see and comparing them if the comb is larger or more apparent they are cockerels.

3. Checking the feathers on the wings to see if they are all the same length they are cockerels.

 

[Delta2 23]

I'm not really sure about the holding upside down one because when I pick my hens up and their feet are pointing down, they struggle like hell and make loud screeching noises. But when their feet are facing up they lie still and look at me. Oh, I see what you mean now. Please ignore my ranting.

A cockerel will have a larger comb and wattles than a hen.

A cockerel has pointed hackle (neck) feathers and a hen has rounded hackle feathers. You know how there is a bunch of feathers that slide up and down when a chicken bobs it's head.

 

[gritsar]

According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.

2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb – The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs – The cockerel’s legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail – The cockerel’s tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back – The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop – The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows – In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers.

**This works best if you have more than one chick of the same breed to compare to.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Cockerels have hackle and saddle feathers that are pointed at the end: > pullets have rounded hackle and saddle feathers: ) Takes a while for the plumage to grow to this point, and a few breeds have hen feathered males--sebrights for one.

 

[kmakani]

Thank you all! I'm thinking I have one of each breed, which I guess if I wanted babies this is a good thing. Unfortunately I just wanted eggs so, we'll see

 

[k2chickens]

You will be able to tell more when they are older for sure! Just keep your fingers crossed that you have more pullets then cockerels! I currently have 10 of them and guess by using some of these methods but none of them are guaranteed! So im hoping to atleast end up with 8 pullets