[Mikey]

We have been offered some unsexed Barnvelder chicks by another amateur chicken keeper. 

How would we go about determining if they are male or female?  How old will they be before it becomes obvious?

[chuckie.egg]

Hi mikey, I have got some 10 day old chicks, and we wanted to know the sex of ours, so scoured the internet then ebay, and came across a gadget called a magnasexer,we have done the chicks 3 times, each time with the same result. You can also use it to tell the sex of the chicks while in the egg, so helps to cut dowm on too many cockerals The magnasexer is not very expensive but I would recommend it, hope this helps.

[Hensington]

don't forget a bottle of snake oil to go with that magnasexer :blink:

[Ice]

Why would you recommend this piece of nonsense chuckie.egg?  Has it proven to be more effective than merely guessing?

[snowflake]

the magnasexer works just the same as a sewing needle and cotten and you save yourself £4.99 .
It is a old way of sexing all living animals.

[chuckie.egg]

I have a few friends who have tried the magnasexer and their chicks have been accurate but a needle and cotton is also another method that has just been posted, as for the snake oil I suppose some people have a use for that as well. At the end of the day just trying to be helpful.

[iwantanallotment]

I've heard a lot of praise for the Magnasexer too, chuckie.

How would you go about it with needle & cotton, can't picture it?

[too many girls]

i'd say 3 boys and a girl i'm as good at predicting (guessing) the sex as a magnasexer

[snowflake]

Just thread a sewing needle, and knot the end of cotten like you would to sew, holding the cotten end hold it over the chick. Best if the chick is in a box by its self.
It will swing  in a circle for pullet or straight for a cock. I use it on eggs going in a incubator or broody if it swings in a circle its fertile if it does nothing its not fertile.
I made a magnet one from the magnets out of the grandchildrens  A.B.C. fridge magents. two magnets with cotten between works the same.
like I said before its a old way of sexing. I have put leg bands on the cocks and checked them again a few days later works for me and others.