Using wing feathers to sex chicks

[DomesticDiva12]

I did this with my straight run buff orpingtons last year and it was correct for all 4 (1 roo, 3 hens). I tried to do it with my easter eggers this year, I got 3 and all had the double row but at 8 weeks old I am still questioning whether 2 of the 3 are pullets or cockerels, 1 I am pretty sure is a pullet



The pictures are my last years chicks, top was in fact a roo (I marked his head with a blue marker after I feather sexed them) and bottom was a pullet

 

[Alex15]

When I picked up my first lot of chickens ever, as day olds, I went through them all and picked the ones with the longest wing feathers! There were definitely differences. The breeds I got were australorps, light sussex and wynadotte and I got 4 from 4 hens! Maybe good luck, or maybe these are those auto sexing breeds? (Despite having long wing feathers my Wyandotte did actually feather out incredibly slowly though).

I also got two welsummers which I picked 2 from 2 hens based on the long eyeliner and two silkies I tired this comb thing, but with those I got a boy and a girl, so I ended up with 7/8 hens! Pretty happy!

 

[hlncndnza]

good biological explanation here: http://animalsciences.missouri.edu/reprod/ReproTech/Feathersex/sld001.htm

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

The "cockerals" had wing tips like IiIiIiI (ignore the dots) while the "pullets" had wing tips like IIIII

This is exactly opposite of the missouri.edu information slides...

 

[Brandi Leigh]

How did everything turn out?

 

[suebgbr]

I ended up with a silkie roo called Cupcake and a silkie hen called Christian Grey.
I give up !!

 

[Laurie39]

Can anyone help me out here? Any idea on sex?

 

[subhanalah]

Can anyone help me out here? Any idea on sex?

this thread is not accurate. Feather seeing is not a widespread trait in commonly available chickens.

 

[Laurie39]

I am new at this and I have no idea how to sex my chicks.

 

[subhanalah]

I am new at this and I have no idea how to sex my chicks.

have you introduced yourself at the New Members Introduction subforum?
We also have an incredible Learning Center that has a lot of information for you, there's no way I could type it all up myself here.
Welcome to BYC! And chickens! They are so awesome!