Topic of the Week - Sexing Chicks

[sumi]

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Boy or girl? Determining gender in chicks can be a tricky business with most breeds, especially Silkies. Though on the flip side, sex-linked breeds can be identified at a glance. But, for the more difficult breeds, what are some of the accurate ways/techniques of telling for sure if you have a male or female chick in hand?

What are the signs, or physical characteristics to look for?

Pic by @vasher
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For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

 

[sunflour]

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

View attachment 1242520
Pic by @vasher
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Boy or girl? Determining gender in chicks can be a tricky business with most breeds, especially Silkies. Though on the flip side, sex-linked breeds can be identified at a glance. But, for the more difficult breeds, what are some of the accurate ways/techniques of telling for sure if you have a male or female chick in hand? What are the signs, or physical characteristics to look for?



For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

Are you talking about day old chicks? Most chicks can be accurately sexed by sight at about 8 weeks old.

 

[sunflour]

Some newborns can be sight sexed - BR and Welsummers . But most with no past experience are nervous until we see them lay an egg.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Can’t forget the autosexing breeds like cream legbars.

 

[sumi]

Are you talking about day old chicks? Most chicks can be accurately sexed by sight at about 8 weeks old.

From day-old to "should be obvious". Though that being said, I once had a young cockerel crow to let me know it's a HE, not a SHE as I was so convinced it was. To add insult to injury, he was standing ON MY LAP at the time…

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Yeah I can’t tell the sex at day old so I rely on buying sexed chicks or pullets.

 

[sunflour]

For the BR the spot on their head and leg color are the first signs, for Wellsummers the pattern of their stripe and "eyeliner" are the first signs. For all baby chicks I think the rate of development of the comb/feathers is an indication - Not sure but think the females feather faster and males the comb increases first

As they grow, most of us for first flocks imagine sickle tail feathers and male features out of fear.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Some newborns can be sight sexed - BR and Welsummers . But most with no past experience are nervous until we see them lay an egg.

What about Dominiques can they be sexed by color like barred rocks? Are welsummers autosexing?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

For the BR the spot on their head and leg color are the first signs, for Wellsummers the pattern of their stripe and "eyeliner" are the first signs. For all baby chicks I think the rate of development of the comb/feathers is an indication - Not sure but think the females feather faster and males the comb increases first

As they grow, most of us for first flocks imagine sickle tail feathers and male features out of fear.

Do you have pictures of these telltale signs by any chance?