Topic of the Week - Sexing Chicks

[PrettyBirdRocky]

After raising straight runs, and be able to tell them apart rather quickly, by mannerisms, combs/wattles, we try to buy just from the pullet bin (Hoover's from our tsc, due to location it's the closest and cheaper option)

That said!!! We have bought from the pullet bin five times now: first time ended up with a cockerel (he showed signs early than his breed was supposed to lol), third and fourth time have a cockerel from each-- yes one is an olive egger but its acting like a cockerel with a rather large comb for 4 weeks lol.

And the buff brahma is still fluffy while hatchmates are nearly fully feathered at 3 weeks lol

We had a broody hatch and just for fun, did the wing thing, had 4 out of 6 cockerels lol second set looks like 2 out of 5 but not certain on cockerels or pullets but that's the ratio lol

This is just our experience, and even had one pullet with a large comb that we weren't certain on until she laid an egg lol

Mannerisms: chest bumping, super friendly (not always the case but gotta be right there), early pecking/chasing

Signs: comb, wattle, legs(not always the case we have one hen that has super thick legs), feathering- wings fuller faster (as experienced by our breeds: easter eggers, olive eggers, Brahma, Australorp, Orpingtons)

 

[member 544621]

wing sexing between 3-5 days for some breeds. I also feel like I can get an idea based on leg length and comb development of older chicks.

 

[barnababy]

I'm in a position unable to risk waiting to find out. I've had zero issue accurately sexing chicks of any age.. but typically I buy them at or under week old by wing feathers. Works like a charm

 

[ElfenLied89]

I'm in a position unable to risk waiting to find out. I've had zero issue accurately sexing chicks of any age.. but typically I buy them at or under week old by wing feathers. Works like a charm

Explain this sorcery lol

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Explain this sorcery lol

Lol right? I've been reading that pullets at a week old have more wing feathers than cockerels. I'm trying it out for our last hatch to see if accurate lol

 

[ElfenLied89]

Lol right? I've been reading that pullets at a week old have more wing feathers than cockerels. I'm trying it out for our last hatch to see if accurate lol

I'm incubating eggs next week and would love to see how accurate this is lol.

 

[UrbanHomesteadTX]

Lol right? I've been reading that pullets at a week old have more wing feathers than cockerels. I'm trying it out for our last hatch to see if accurate lol

I just found out about the wing method last week, decided to try it with this hatch to get an idea of ratio. Lol. Hoping it works out.
My last hatch of 24 ended up having 22 roos in it finding a way to sex chicks in the first week will help me plan things better.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

I just found out about the wing method last week, decided to try it with this hatch to get an idea of ratio. Lol. Hoping it works out.
My last hatch of 24 ended up having 22 roos in it finding a way to sex chicks in the first week will help me plan things better.

So far, going by comb size and mannerisms, looks like I have two cockerels and 3 pullets and the wings fit. The girls had more wing feathers quicker. And they are easter eggers.

It looks like our buff brahmas might possibly be 3 pullets one cockerel going by wings and feathering lol (little dude is mainly fluff still and they are 4 weeks old lol)

And I didn't look at our olive eggers, but one looks like a roo and they are 6 weeks.

And I feel you on that too ratio, we had horrible luck our first straight run lol

 

[CrystalMosko]

Okay, I know Easter eggers and olive eggers can have different breeds in them. But I've been able to successfully pick hens out of straight run chicks really well. Never brought home a rooster. I always went for the ones that were more feathered and not so fluffy. My hatch is due tomorrow. I'm going to guess on them based on this and see how right I end up being. If it's fairly accurate at least for the particular chicks I have at least that will be helpful! I'm going to look at those wings at about a day or two and I'm going to mark the ones I think are roosters

Can't wait to get through this thread to see what you ended up with! I have some that hatched 5/30 and 6/1. Frantically reading through to see if I can see what I have! =)