BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 In the three weeks since we've had our lovely little chicks we've been continually trying to fathom their sex. I've looked on endless websites and even asked a vet (who did say we would not be able to tell for a while) but every time we make a decision, they appear to dramatically 'change sex'. It's hilarious! Almost as though they are laughing at us thinking 'ha ha, they think I'm a boy, silly people'! They're six weeks now and I still couldn't even begin to make an accurate guess. Does anyone know at what age you can tell their sex? I've heard stories about them 'changing sex' right up to six months but surely this is unusual. Our boys will be going to live on a farm and I will be so sad to see them go. Lets hope for ten out of ten girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Unless they are a self-sexing breed, you can't usually tell until at least 6 weeks... sorry It's fun guessing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I don't think they're changing sex so much as it is their feathering which changes from day to day....... Unless you have the ones which have completely different feathering from day one then it can be difficult to tell for a long time. I wouldn't worry too much - the feathers do eventually show up which are cockerels and usually before they start to crow! When the cockerels do start to crow, they have a few days of practising when they aren't very good...or very loud....so, you'll have time to take them to the farm. I hope you get the 10 out of 10....but that would be very lucky! Our last hatch were 3 boys and 2 girls - we were hoping it would be the other way round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 They say cockerels feathers are supposed to more pointy and the hens more rounded but they all look the same to me! They all look rounded and are developing at the same rate. I guess I will have to stop being so impatient and just wait and see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I've found with a lot of my chicks the girls feather up quicker than the boys, and the pointy tip of the longest primary feather reaches the end of their back/start of their tail sooner (if you know what I mean) I'll try and find some pics that show it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 I'll take a picture of each tonight to see if anyone can make more of an accurate guess than me! That makes more sense about the feathers - especially with one of them. It had the long feather you describe and I put this down to an attribute of the cocks (it was also behaving slightly cocklike!) but yesterday it suddenly became the most hen like of them all! Pictures to follow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 With my six (now 3 & a half weeks old) I've used various methods. Started off on day one with feather sexing, where you look at the tips of their feathers and that indicated 4 girls, 1 boy and 1 I was unsure of. Then I watched their feathers growing, especially tail feathers because girls are supposed to grow theirs before the boys. My 4 provisional girls quickly had very long tails, the one I thought was a boy was slow to get going but now that ones tail fits in nicely with the girls. The one I wasn't sure about seemed to chanel all it's energies into growing massive sturdy legs, a massive comb and didn't bother with feathering up at all It looks like a boy, stands like a boy and acts more masculine than the others. The one who feather sexing said was a boy now to me doesn't look as boyish as he did initially. I really am unsure about that one. They've started to grow neck feathers now so I'll be watching those with interest. I've never had any doubts about my little runty Robin being a girl. She has no comb, stands like a girl and now is growing lovely rounded feathers on her neck. If I'm honest I'll put one of the girls into the 'I'm not sure' catagory too now. I'm 95% sure it's a girl but there is a niggling doubt Five more chicks hatched on Tuesday. I've feather sexed those and have just the one girl Fingers crossed I'm wrong I wish they'd all come out just pink and blue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 I wish it was as easy as baby people! What should I look for on the neck feathers? One of ours who I initially placed as a girl has just grown pointy black neck feathers which I believe is a boy thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Here's a girl and boy Exchequer Leggie.....even at a few days old the girl has more developed primaries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 They're so cute!!! However, I can't see any difference. I'm definitely going to need all your help! I wish I could run home and take pictures now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Too late for yours now but if you have any chicks in future this photo is helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Lesley and I did similar comparisons when we both hatched barnies from eggs that her hens laid.. they werer inconclusive It became obvious a couple of weeks later that I had one of each. Not that this was borne out by the old wing feather test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 It's doubly hard for us as they're all different breeds so can't do comparisons. At six weeks there should be indications though I think. It's such fun trying to work it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I have no idea and cant help, but I just want to say they are SO cute! I want the little black one in the middle and the pale yellow on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 You don't know how hard it is to leave them and go to work in the morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Oh, I do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 Ha ha, yes, that was a pretty silly thing to say on here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 My latest ones are temporarily in a hamster cage on the landing. Just going up and down the stairs is taking a considerable length of time It's lovely standing on the stairs, looking at them through the bannisters and being at eye level with them A regular, mundane happening is now so much more entertaining! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 Ours are in a similar enclosure in our spare room. They've just started to go without the heat lamp but when we first got them I spent a whole day staring at them and gave myself a migraine from being too close to the heat bulb! Good exercise going up and down the stairs though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethBubbles Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 I've just taken some new pictures of the little ones to see if anyone can take an acurate guess at their sexes. Let me know what you all think! They're all now six weeks old except the silkies who are eight weeks old... Mr Fantastic Stewy Pingu Dave Fajhita Mo Bruno Large Lumps Captain Jack Sparrow Oscar I have my thoughts about each of them but I don't want to influence your decisions! So, what do you think? Who are the girls and who are the boys??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Mr Fantastic - I don't know, I'm no good with Silkies. Stewy - Girl, has no comb whatsoever. Pingu - I'd be inclined to say boy just because of the way it's standing, not a massive comb but may be slow maturing. Dave - Girl, no comb. Fajhita - Girl because of the way it stands. Mo - Maybe a girl. I've no idea about Bruno or Large Lumps! Captain Jack Sparrow - Boy. Oscar - Girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Ok, here's my guess: Mr Fantastic, girl (despite looking like Gary Rhodes) Stewy, unsure, probably a girl Pingu, BOY Dave, girl Fajita, gril but hard to tell with that posture Mo, BOY Bruno...hhhhmmmm, girl I think Large lumps - no idea! Captain Jack, girl Oscar, Boy... just look at those feet! What's the prize and do you know what breeds they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Here is my guess... Mr Fantastic - girl Stewy - girl Pingu - boy Dave - girl Fajita - girl Mo - def boy Bruno - girl Large lumps - boy Captain Jack - girl Oscar - boy Good Luck, any ideas what the other breeds are? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Here is my four pennyworth: Mr Fantastic - girl Stewy - boy Pingu - boy Dave - unsure. Tail and stance makes me think boy. Face says girl. Fajita - girl Mo - boy Bruno - boy Large Lumps - girl Captain Jack - boy Oscar - boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 No idea at all as a total novice but Pingu, Mo and Bruno already have combs bigger than one of my from Omlet - I wont show her as she will be SO jealous! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
