male/female

[charliefox]

hi i have 8 four week old barnevelder chicks what do i need to look for to determin what they are ? uncle fox

 

[chrismahon]

I've been told the first to develop wing feathers are the hens, but I've never tested this and it isn't certain anyway. Otherwise they should start to show at 8 weeks or so. The play fighters are often males, but not always, the quietest one is a female often but not always. Guess 'til they crow you don't know.

 

[Philcott]

Might be worthwhile looking at the legs, the males being thicker than the girls. Would also have thought that by this time the size difference between the boys and girls could also be obvious?

 

[Chuck]

First thing to develope in all of my breeds is the comb which on the males, begins to grow and become a little redder. Some weeks later, comb development is more pronounced with the feamle combs showing no movement at all. Bigger legs on the males can be seen sometimes and feather development also but not conclusive. On some breeds of large fowl, the tails of the pullets start to grow and become long and pointed from just a week or two while the tail on the males takes two or three months to grow.