The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ayrt1010 on June 25, 2012, 10:04:48 pm

Title: New chicks
Post by: ayrt1010 on June 25, 2012, 10:04:48 pm
 :) We have only had our chickens 2 months but they are now referred to as the girls! We had 4 chicks hatch last weekend and I can't believe how much they have grown already , as a complete novice at this chicken / chick lark can I ask how old the chicks will be before I know if there is any cockerels and is there an easy way to tell or not? Thank you
Title: Re: New chicks
Post by: little blue on June 25, 2012, 10:06:45 pm
what breed are they?
some are easier to tell than others even if not sex-linked (differently coloured)

by 6 weeks you should be able to start to see a difference in their combs & wattles, and some boys get abit bolshy

or wait for them to crow!
Title: Re: New chicks
Post by: katog on June 27, 2012, 11:29:57 am
Mine are 6 and a half weeks now and I can't tell yet - it's a bit of a hassel deciding on their future accommodation.
Title: Re: New chicks
Post by: Mel on June 27, 2012, 02:11:21 pm
One way is that they shall have two rows of feathers,if one row is shorter than the other is is a hen,if both rows are the same height it is a male though not foolproof,at 6 weeks do any have hackle feathers growing on their necks? and how about the comb and wattles?Any significantly different,like more red or larger?
Title: Re: New chicks
Post by: katog on July 06, 2012, 08:41:25 am
One crowed yesterday so I guess he's male. The others sometimes fight with hackles up so maybe they're all boys - hey ho time will tell.