rachel m Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) sorry for all the questions. got a new light sussex from SIL at weekend, which she has reared from chicks and are now about 14w. compared to the other definate male chicks, she looked like she would be a girl. she has a small but formed comb and wattles, similar to nigella's when we got her from omlet. but on closer inspection i am wondering if she may be developing spurs, they are tiny dots, but slightly more prominent than on our other girls (but then she is bigger than them already and has bigger legs.) i assume the marks on the legs of female hens are just a evolutionary left-over, bit like nipples on human males?!? we let her out in the garden with the others for a few mins after wing clipping, and she was the one who tried to peck delia's neck my questions are: at what age do chickens/light sussexes develop their spurs? at what age does the cheap-cheap turn into a bok-bok? thanks for your help Edited June 25, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel m Posted June 25, 2008 Author Share Posted June 25, 2008 (edited) Here are some pictures to help you decide if this is a boy or girl !!! Edited June 26, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 My little sussex x hen started bok-boking when she was about 26-28 weeks old, and her comb was smaller than the definate males were Hope this is of some help, it's all i can offer i'm afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Hmmmm, I think it could be a boy because of the comb. If you said that the chicken is 14 weeks old and already has a prominent comb then I would say it was a boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 I thinking boy because of the sturdy legs and comb. Any chance of a clearer picture of the hackle feathers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 25, 2008 Share Posted June 25, 2008 Not that I know much about sussex's, but that looks like a boy to me. Whichever it is, it's got a rather wonky-looking toe!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel m Posted June 26, 2008 Author Share Posted June 26, 2008 Have taken a few extra pictures to help in the "Sex the chicken" competition!!! Hope we have the size of the pictures correct this time! Thanks for looking and giving your comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Still inclining towards boy. Wouldn't stake my life on it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesH Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I think it's a girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I think it's a girl. Now, I don't know girl chickens too well (don't even get mine until Saturday), but lived for a long while in a US neighbourhood where a neighbour kept cocks (for fighting; don't ask; eventually fined by police; but anyway...): this one doesn't look like any of the cocks I've lived around, so I'll vote for girl... probably wrong, but thems me two pence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Looks like a girl to me too, in fact he / she looks just like our Matilda, not much to choose between them. Are you able to take a "whole hen" photo, the tails are often very different Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I think boy. The comb looks rather big and back over the head for it to be a girl. I like Eglutine though couldnt 100% stake my life on it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Goodness me; I had no idea it was so complicated. Can't you just have a peek between the legs and see if theres girl bits or boy bits??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 If only. Apparrently there are over 70 variations on the theme and vent sexers take years to train. Quicker to see which it does first, crow or lay an egg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 "vent sexers" thats fantastic. I would love to be able to say at social gatherings "oh yes.. I'm a vent sexer; what do you do" Fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I was creased up laughing at this. Imagine a job where you have to look at chook-bottoms - ALL DAY LONG!! But I'd love to be able to call myeslf a 'vent-sexer' (Egluntine are you sure your not having us on??!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Moi? From 'tinterweb. Vent sexing baby chicks is a method popularized in the 1930s by a Japanese professor, Kiyoshi Masui. Individuals well trained at chick sexing schools can consistently and easily attain greater than 95% accuracy. This method involves holding the day old chick upside down in one hand and while visually examining the vent area for the presence or absence of a rudimentary male sex organ. This method sounds much easier than it really is. After being taught the basics of this technique from non-professionals, most people would be doing well to obtain 60-70% accuracy at best. However, if interested, additional written information on this technique can be obtained from the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas. Most commercial hatcheries that offer chicks for sale as either pullets or cockerels utilize this method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Eglutine; I think you should train. Where on earth did you find that info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I googled it...but I have a fascinating book on the subject called "Sexing all fowl, baby chicks, game birds, cage birds" by an individual who rejoices in the name of Loyl Strombert. Fascinating reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Pimlott Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 neck feathers resemble that of a female .... so at this moment in time i'd say girl. is it large fowl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
