calmbreeze Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 hi - we have just had our first hatching - 5 little darlings - all doing really well with mum although we know who the father is(!) - not too sure who the mums are as we have 7 hens!!! (we do think one might be a penguin thou?!?!?! ) question is how soon before we can tell if they are going to be boys or girls and what are the tell tale signs to look out for? hopefully they will all be girls or at worst one boy any help would be appreciated thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I think it depends on the breed. What chicks have you got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 if they are single combed breeds then you can sometimes see the combs on the possible boys at a few days old some boys have chunky legs but neither method is 100% reliable but by about 3-4 weeks old you might start to get an idea as to ones are boys I've got a legbar cross that just 6 weeks old and from a couple of days old you could tell he was a boy today he's supporting a very nice comb and he knows it to and is getting quite red trouble is he'll be starting to crow anytime now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roselady Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Hi Very little experience to go off, we ve had our girls for 7 weeks now (4 pekins and latterly an araucana). We got the pekins at approx 3 and 4 wks and within 2 weeks it was apparent to even us one was a cockeral - much bigger Combe and wattle development, thicker longer legs and strangled little crowing practices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calmbreeze Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 obviously not easy then - one is bigger than the other 4. we dont know the mums just who the dad is! we think there are 2 frizzles as the wings feathers already seemed curled - the others are flat. going to be some surprises!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 You could always post up some pics!? Lots of people here with experience who might be able to help!! I have pekins and had 2 hatches, 4 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd. Very quickly I could tell I had 3 boys & 1 girl in the first set. The boys were sparing with each other and developing combs and wattles!!!! But luckily in the 2nd set I got 2 girls and 1 boy!! I will confess I had to get my eldest son to help me when I posted pics on here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
