The Poultry Keeper

rainbowuk29 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 13 Location: BIRMINGHAM

As a married woman and a mother of 2 I am embarrassed to be asking, how do you tell the boys from the girls?
I have got 6 19 day old chicks, 3 are for me and 3 will be going to a farm for dissabled people when they are old enough. The farm dont mind what they have but we live in a city and need to have 3 girls.
I have read a lot of books on chickens in the last week or so but I got ones for beginners and it doesn't say much about sexing chicks.
Can you tell the difference at this age? The chicks are starting to look quite grown up now and some differences are appearing.
Of the 3 chicks who were originally yellow (now getting cream feathers) 2 have grown big combs. The 3 that were orangry (now got brown and cream feathers) they all look pretty much the same except 1 is smaller. Is this significant? Sorry for such a rambling post, any help would be appreciated, thanks for reading this.

Viki

NannyP · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:21 pm Post subject:

Big combs are quite significant and can mean they're boys. Size can be significant as boys are always about 1/3rd bigger than their female counterparts. It is very difficult to sex them whne they're young, I have heard that girls feather up quicker than boys, but haven't witnessed that.
Sometimes you can't be sure until you hear them crowing Laughing

Knobby · Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:23 pm Post subject:

If they lay an egg, its a pretty good sign that its a girl ! Wink

But generally, the faster the comb appears, the bigger the chance is its a boy !

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

also the comb and wattles on a boy will be red long before the girls, who usually only 'redden up' when they are about to lay.
What breed are they, sometimes within some breeds you can tell sooner.

rainbowuk29 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 13 Location: BIRMINGHAM

Thanks for all the advice, Knobby I have written yours down so I don't forget ! Its taken me ages to get to read your posts as the computer has been down. I have no idea what breed the Chickie's are, I think they are cross breeds as I have looked at loads of chicken web sights and haven't seen any chickens like these. Another of the yellow chicks has grown a big comb now so hopefully those will be the only 2 males. Thanks for your help.

Viki

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

hello Viki, do you have pictures of the chicks? Not that it will help identify them but I just like to look at pics.

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

If i could just tag a little question on the end here!

For the last 4 months i thought i had 4 girlies - one has started having little stampy fits whenever i go over. It also has a bigger comb but is no larger than the other.

Could i be mistaken in thinking my she is a he? or could it be that the eggs are imminent?

I am hoping for the latter and any advice from you more knowledgeable peeps would be gratefully received....

By the way this is one of the lohrman browns.....

Ta muchly! Confused