[doganjo]

We put coloured collars on self coloured dogs - not sure it'd work for chicks though 

[NicandChic]

I'll have a go later once all are settled in the brooder, can't do any harm, I've been looking on the Internet so hopefully determine what I've got...maybe 
Out of the 6, 5 look the same, some with slightly blonder faces etc but I can't tell them apart just yet....but...we do have 1 imposter who is a lovely all over shade of...yellow! Not very Wyandotte looking!

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I must admit I'm never sure when to move chick's to the broader. I have to say the last to hatch of mine usually have more of a struggle so perhaps I should leave it longer. Have got a batch in now due in 16 days and I'll probably be up all night watching them hatch!!! It's just the most magical thing!!

[Q]

Did you check the pin feathers?  I am intrigued to see what you think you have.

you can come back in  a few months and see if you were right.

[NicandChic]

Hmm well...out the 4 in the brooder (popping the other 2 in the morning) So far I think its 1 pullet & 3 cockerels  looking at the wings 3 have short fluffy ones while one looks quite different - has very long primary's I think their called, very hard to keep the little wriggles still & the wings are so teeny.

So far we have Marilyn (mine) Chunky (hubby's) Zulu (eldest sons) Doughnut (youngest sons) and the communal 2 (Bilbo & Frodo)

[darkbrowneggs]

On the wing feathers it depends on whether they are fast or slow feathering.  My marans it was the girls with the faster feather development and with the cream legbars it was the boys. 


I think from a dim and distant memory of reading something somewhere it depends on whether they are predominately European or Asian lineage.  Fast feathering boys for European ie the egg laying stains, and slow feathering boy if Asian types - bred predominately for meat producing.

[shygirl]

you can get tiny leg rings for chicks - failing that a dab of tippex on their heads works as a temporary id.

[Steph Hen]

I used a bit of green food dye to mark the fluff of some of mine, worked well.

[Q]

I used a bit of green food dye to mark the fluff of some of mine, worked well.

Great idea

[Steph Hen]

I used a bit of green food dye to mark the fluff of some of mine, worked well.

Great idea

I stole it from someone else. 

I've just remembered, I worked in a bird behaviour lab years ago, and we used coloured marker pens to id chicks to groups for experiments, just drew blobs on their backs. (nothing sinister was done to them in the experiments). I was concerned about the toxic effects, but they'd been doing it for years and no probs. the chicks were reared to adulthood.

[NicandChic]

We've only 6 & they all look a tiny bit different no probs so far identifying them individually.
Don't think I'm having much luck with feather sexing, all the wyandottes look the same, the one potential imposter Marilyn has very different wing tips (could I be that unlucky!! 5 cockerels & 1 hen) time will tell,
Have attached a quick pic