Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Fraggle on June 12, 2012, 08:50

Title: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 12, 2012, 08:50

I got these 2 chickens a few weeks ago, but im now a little concerned they may be of the boy variety! Any ideas?

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: symonep on June 12, 2012, 09:02

How old are they?

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: joyfull on June 12, 2012, 09:06

put a piece of card under the neck feathers - are they pointed or rounded at the ends?

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 12, 2012, 09:27

Not sure how old, think about 12-14 weeks, one of the others I got at the same time, crowed for the first time this morning, so Im taking him back tonight!

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 12, 2012, 09:37

Im still not sure about these two tho?

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: joyfull on June 12, 2012, 09:44

have you checked the neck feathers yet?

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Casey76 on June 12, 2012, 09:45

The red/black chicken in the foreground has a suspiciously large and red comb for a 12-14 week old pullet.  It also looks like he is developing some nice droopy saddle hackles (though the pic is a bit small).

The grey in the background looks like a fairly typical gangly 12-14 week old pullet - however I can't see the shape or the comb (single, rose, pea etc)

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 15, 2012, 13:54

Thanks for your replys, only a few days on and they're both now crowing!  :ohmy:  So they're taking a little trip tonight back to my freind and I will be getting 2 new ones (hopefully girls)!!  :)

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: ANHBUC on June 15, 2012, 17:02

You might be better with an auto sexing breed like welsummers.

Mine were so easy to sex and even after their chick feathers went I could tell males and females apart.  My light sussex on the other hand are 8 weeks old and I think I have 2 females and 3 males then I change my mind and think it is 4 females and 1 male.  Not easy to do on some breeds.   ::)   :lol:

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 15, 2012, 20:48

Only been keeping chickens a year and not had much luck, lost 5 at various times over the year, no particular reasons.  :(. So now going for the Heinz 57 varieties, which arnt quite so pricey but do seem very difficult to sex!

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: ANHBUC on June 15, 2012, 22:17

You could go for Black Rock which is a really hardy cross and you are guaranteed pullets.  ;)

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 15, 2012, 22:21

Thanks, I may take your advice if these two new ones turn our testosterone filled!

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: ANHBUC on June 15, 2012, 22:27

If you post your local area on your profile you may find another member might be able to help point you in the right direction for some pullets.

Title: Re: Help Sexing Please
Post by: Fraggle on June 16, 2012, 07:00

Thanks for the advice  :)