phenna_family Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 (edited) Hi my friend has recently been given some chicks they are about 8 weeks old she thinks. She asked me could I tell if they were male or female, well me being an amature at chicken sexing I wouldnt like to say. How early can you sex them. I did suggest her taking them to a breeder where we got our two new girls from. Can anyone send me some piccies or explain so I can pass the message on to her thanks. Oh she did say that their feathers are starting to show and they are ginger. Many thanks Claire ) Edited March 29, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 it depends on the breed many breeds could be sexed at that age but not all Comb and wattle development usually gives away who are boys and who are girls, the boys will get redder faces, combs and wattles and their combs will be bigger than the girls who will have quite pale faces and small combs in comparison males have much thicker legs than females hackle (sweeping neck feathers) will start to show, males have longer flowing hackles and the feathers are pointy. saddle feathers (sweeping rump feathers usually a different colour or tone) will start to show on boys only If they are ginger they could be commercial hybrids, these are sexed at a day old and the girls sold on so if they are commercial hybrids they could well all be girls Of course there are plenty of other ginger breeds though! If you can get photos then we may be able to tell for you If not try the Feathersite website, I think thats has some pics on that may help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Thank you I will try and send some pictures. I will contact my friend and ask her to email me some. Many thanks Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Here is a picture of them hope this helps Many thanks Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I could be wrong, but those are NEVER 8 weeks old! They look more like 3-4 to me if that (mind you. I've only hatched twice so could be totally wrong!) Unless they're a barred breed I don't think you can sex them that early? Redwing? Wehere are you? BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I've never hatched before but I can safely agree with BeckyBoo that those chickens are nowhere near 8 weeks old. They are much younger - little cute babies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 yes I agree, much younger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Can only agree, they are very young maybe only 4 weeks if that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 They look about 2-3 weeks old so should still be under a heat lamp all day and night even if in a house. If she could send us some pics of their heads and wings then we may be able to but at that age there isn't much difference. I have found that girls wing feathers seem to grow a lot quicker than boys and boys have little combs from day 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I agree too, only 3 -4 weeks old, if that, but the one at the back already looks a bit bigger than the other one, it might be the angle of the photo but its legs also look a bit sturdier too and is it just the colouring or is there the beginning of a comb there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 They are only two weeks at most and will need a heat lamp 24/7 at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 thanks for your replys I will post back to my friend. Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Yep three weeks old at most They need a lamp or electric hen as already said Cute little things though, the one on thr right has a classic boy look and stance, the other I am not sure about Lots of chicks get given away BECAUSE they are boys, experienced breeders are good at telling early and pass the boys on while they are cute and fluffy to unsuspecting people, I'm not saying that happened in your friends case though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 One of each there I think. One is definitely larger & one also has a boyish stance. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I agree, much younger than 8 weeks, more like 3, possibly boy on right and girl on left, and where is the heat lamp? Did your friend do any research before taking these babies on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I would be inclined to say they are even younger - by a week some wing feathers are tending to come through - even my slowest ones have signs of tail feathers and pretty well developed wings by three weeks - I wouldn't be surprised if they are only 1 week old - did she say 8 weeks or 8 days old? Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Maybe she took the pic a while ago, and maybe she lifted the heatlamp to get a picture???? I think they are only a few days old in that pic, way to soon to tell, especially not knowing what breed they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marianne40 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I am wondering if I also have 1 male and 1 female, I was told that the brown chicks were female and the yellow ones were male, so we chose 2 brown ones. One chick has developed feather more quicly and more of them and also a more pronounced tail! I have some pics if I can work out how to put them on I will! Marianne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I am wondering if I also have 1 male and 1 female, I was told that the brown chicks were female and the yellow ones were male, so we chose 2 brown ones. One chick has developed feather more quicly and more of them and also a more pronounced tail! I have some pics if I can work out how to put them on I will!Marianne If you were told browns are girls and yellows are boys, it sounds like you may have standard brown hens - warrens, gingernuts, ISAs - all pretty similar. In which case, yes it is likely that you have two girls (although very rarely a ginger cockerel does occur!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marianne40 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Ok Thanks, was wondering what type of chickens they may be!! Will wait and see what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
