[princesspiggy]

I can tell by looking at them but unlikely you are near.

  

how? just cos males are more gawky? some of my females have rosecombs and other females of same breed dont. 

[meebh]

Hi

I suppose this isn't fool proof but we have just hatched 13 eggs and 2 of the chicks have short rounded wings and less feather growth on their tails.  We are assuming these are the cockerels as I once found something online that had a chart of how to define cocks from hens at 5 weeks of age by studying their development and appearance. 

This info didn't copy and paste well from word document but I found this on the net which has the same info on it.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/sexingchicks.htm

regards 

[BlueDaisy]

I've got 3 Ixworths at 15 weeks old and I still can't decide if I've got boys or girls! I keep changing my mind!

[ellisr]

Hi

I suppose this isn't fool proof but we have just hatched 13 eggs and 2 of the chicks have short rounded wings and less feather growth on their tails.  We are assuming these are the cockerels as I once found something online that had a chart of how to define cocks from hens at 5 weeks of age by studying their development and appearance. 

This info didn't copy and paste well from word document but I found this on the net which has the same info on it.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/sexingchicks.htm

regards 

I have used that method and it is quite good out of one batch I noted 2 boys and was nearly right there were 3 boys

[princesspiggy]

I've got 3 Ixworths at 15 weeks old and I still can't decide if I've got boys or girls! I keep changing my mind!

where did u get them? im looking for ixworths this year. im in aberdeenshire.

[BlueDaisy]

I got them from Ebay
Someone on another forum keeps saying that I shouldn't call them Ixworths as he 'knows someone' who got eggs from the same seller, and they got pale brown eggs, and Ixworths should lay creamy coloured eggs. All mine were from creamy coloured eggs (when does cream become pale brown? I'm sure that's quite subjective! )
Maybe the 2 egg batches came from different pens. He says his 'friends' ixworths from this seller have the wrong coloured eyes, mine look the same as every photo I can find of Ixworths on the net. I don't know if the forum guy has a grudge against the Ebay guy or what
I was very happy with the ebay guy, it was the first time I got a reasonable hatch rate and the breed were as advertised (as far as I can tell). I got Hubbards off him too.
Unlike the crele orpington eggs I got from a 'reputable' Orpy show breeder - I got one white bird - I think it's an Orpy!
Or the Partridge Orpys I bought - 2 of the eggs were half incubated! Thank god I candled them before I set them!

[doganjo]

Take your own counsel, BD!

[dubie]

well all ours are cocks then, typical

[doganjo]

well all ours are cocks then, typical

How did you come to that conclusion?

[dubie]

the needle test

[doganjo]

What? Swinging a needle over them on a thread?  What rubbish!

[Beewyched]

Swinging a needle on a thread! - no chance, mine won't stay stilll long enough.  Will just have to wait to see how they turn out -
Option 1) - Free range layers
Option 2) - Free range Sunday dinner 

 

[dubie]

Swinging a needle on a thread! - no chance, mine won't stay stilll long enough.  Will just have to wait to see how they turn out -
Option 1) - Free range layers
Option 2) - Free range Sunday dinner 

 

[jaykay]

Wing feathers definitely work, but only days 1-3. (Pullets alternate longs and shorts, cockerels all rather short and same length).
I think the same sex-linked gene means pullets 'feather up' more quickly too, but I've found that harder to judge.