4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[vikchick]

I have 4 buff orpingdon chicks there 8 weeks old

anyone know how old they will be befor | can tell what they are ?

I have a feeling i have 2 hens and 2 cocks as the hens have shorter tails the the other 2

could do with a bit of help here what do i look for as ive never had chicks befor

 

sadly just lost my 2 ex batts to the fox a couple of weeks ago ....so upset they were so great i really miss them

so also looking for a couple of laying hens if any one knows of any local ??

 

thanks

[Redwing]

Little girlies hold themselves more horizontally than boys who are a little more upright, size of combs and wattles can also be a clue, I have also read that boys backs take longer to feather up.

 

Check out Angels4's post below about Coco which has a pic of similar aged Orp chicks one of which may be a boy, the two birds do look quite different and may be of some help

 

I would say you cant be 100% until one crows! however you can normally get a feel beforehand

 

If in doubt post some pics - there are a few on here that are good at identifying the boys!

[Griffin]

Yes show us pics and we'll tell you The boys should have the start of combs & wattles by 8 weeks where as the girls will not.

 

The Domestic Fowl Trust isn't too far from you and they sell hybrid point-of-lay pullets.

[abwsco]

I thought orps were hard to sex. I know we didn't buy 12 weeks old orps as there wasn't a 100% guarantee they were girls.