Tractor Supply Chicks?

[JadedPhoenix]

Could you explain to me how the color of the down can help sex the chicks?

If the chicks are certain breeds or hybrids they can be sexed by their down. Doesn't work for all chicks.

 

[red horse ranch]

Could you explain to me how the color of the down can help sex the chicks?

In Buff colored and a lot of red colored chicks the female will have a dark spot on her head and the males will have a much lighter head.
In wild pattern (such as brown leghorns, sussex etc.) chicks usually have a black line outside of the brown on their backs and this black line extends up on the head for females but not males.
One rule of thumb that I use, females almost always have a darker head.

 

[chickenlver2013]

D

In Buff colored and a lot of red colored chicks the female will have a dark spot on her head and the males will have a much lighter head.
In wild pattern (such as brown leghorns, sussex etc.) chicks usually have a black line outside of the brown on their backs and this black line extends up on the head for females but not males.
One rule of thumb that I use, females almost always have a darker head.

does this work on mixes? I have Americauna Roo crossed with Red sex link hens and the babies are yellow with a black stripe from their head down.

 

[shmccarthy]

They're not bad if you just want a backyard bird. I've used TSC for a couple years now and haven't had great or bad experiences with them. Most of the employees don't know much at all about the chicks, but some are very helpful and do know what they're doing. I found that a lot of the bins have been mislabeled and they do sell Easter Eggers as Ameraucaunas, but I'm sure that's what the hatchery tells them to do. Depending on the day and whose taking care of them, there are sometimes dead flat chicks in the bins and the water is very dirty. This is not always the case though, it's just happened a few times at my local store. I like going in the days before they get a new shipments because usually the chicks are half off or they give you other good deals I do love how mos have a big variety of birds

 

[calliepax]

In Buff colored and a lot of red colored chicks the female will have a dark spot on her head and the males will have a much lighter head.
In wild pattern (such as brown leghorns, sussex etc.) chicks usually have a black line outside of the brown on their backs and this black line extends up on the head for females but not males.
One rule of thumb that I use, females almost always have a darker head.

I have 2 ameraucana pullets and 2 golden laced wyandotte pullets (at least that's what I think I have. But I'm having trouble with one of the wyandottes, She has started pecking at one of the ameraucana and making her bleed. Is this normal, could it be because one is not a pullet after all? I have separated the one that is pecking and put her into her own pen. Any advise?

 

[red horse ranch]

D
does this work on mixes? I have Americauna Roo crossed with Red sex link hens and the babies are yellow with a black stripe from their head down.

I have to say I'm not sure. My Americana mixes are hard to tell sex. They come in so many different colors. I have a 3 week old that is completely silver and grey with no head spots. But I can tell by the way that she eats that it's female... scratch the floor, take 2 bites...scratch the floor, take 2 bites... It goes on this way the entire time she's eating. Males may scratch occasionally but not continuously like a hen does.
The black stripe going up onto the head sounds female but you would have to put that together with her actions to draw an educated guess!

 

[chickenlver2013]

I have to say I'm not sure. My Americana mixes are hard to tell sex. They come in so many different colors. I have a 3 week old that is completely silver and grey with no head spots. But I can tell by the way that she eats that it's female... scratch the floor, take 2 bites...scratch the floor, take 2 bites... It goes on this way the entire time she's eating. Males may scratch occasionally but not continuously like a hen does.
The black stripe going up onto the head sounds female but you would have to put that together with her actions to draw an educated guess!

I never realized that! Scratching also indicates sex?

 

[red horse ranch]

I have 2 ameraucana pullets and 2 golden laced wyandotte pullets (at least that's what I think I have. But I'm having trouble with one of the wyandottes, She has started pecking at one of the ameraucana and making her bleed. Is this normal, could it be because one is not a pullet after all? I have separated the one that is pecking and put her into her own pen. Any advise?

I'm thinking of my own golden laced wyandotte and she has always been kind of bossy and dominant. To females and males. I don't know if it is just her personality or a breed trait.
You are right to separate them until the wounded one heals. You didn't say how old they are but it could be the wyandotte establishing her place (on Top) of the pecking order and it just got out of hand. Once they draw blood they won't stop. Check with your local farm stores or online and see if you can find an anti-pick lotion called 'Rooster Booster'. Apply it liberally to the wounded one. When miss bossy goes to attack her again she will get a very nasty taste of it. It won't hurt either of them but it stops the pecking.

 

[red horse ranch]

I never realized that! Scratching also indicates sex?

I just know what I have observed in my own flock over the many years I've had them. Not all females will scratch that much but males do very little of it.

 

[Klutch]

Do Tractor supply chicks already have their Mareks?