Chicks' Gender: When Can We Tell?

Determining the gender of baby chicks can be a challenging task. While some physical characteristics and behaviours can provide clues, it is not always easy to accurately identify the sex of a chick, especially when they are very young. As chicks grow older, certain traits and behaviours become more pronounced, making it easier to distinguish between males and females. In this article, we will explore the different methods used to determine the gender of chicks, including vent sexing, feather sexing, and behavioural observations, providing insights into when these methods are most reliable.

Behavioural differences

Female chicks, on the other hand, tend to be more submissive and easily frightened by loud noises, often choosing to run in response. When approached, they may crouch down and hold their wings out slightly. They are also more likely to stay in the corners during feeding time, while male chicks may be the first to reach the food dish.

As the chicks mature, typically around 8 to 10 weeks of age, behavioural differences may become more pronounced. Male chicks may start to crow as early as three weeks old, although this is usually associated with maturity. They may also begin to display dominant tendencies within their social groups.

It is important to note that these behavioural differences are not always definitive indicators of gender, as individual variations and breed-specific characteristics can influence behaviour. Additionally, some hens may exhibit behaviours typically associated with male chicks, such as crowing. Therefore, it is recommended to consider multiple factors, including physical characteristics and breed-specific traits, in conjunction with behavioural observations to more accurately determine the gender of chicks.

Vent sexing

Determining the sex of chicks can be challenging, and it is especially difficult to sex chicks when they are very young. Vent sexing is considered the most accurate way to determine the sex of a chick, but it can hurt or damage the chick if done incorrectly. This is why it is best to hire a professional to perform the procedure.

To master vent sexing, one must undergo extensive training and gain significant expertise and experience. The differences between the vents of male and female chicks are subtle and easy to miss. Even with practice, sexing these chickens can be difficult, but over time, the examiner will learn to identify the subtle differences.

While vent sexing is highly accurate, it is typically used as a last resort due to the potential risk of harming the chick. Other methods, such as feather sexing or wing sexing, are less invasive and can be effective within the first few days after hatching for certain breeds that exhibit sex-linked feathering traits. In these breeds, female chicks tend to have longer primary wing feathers compared to their coverts (smaller feathers on top), while male chicks' primary feathers are about the same length as their coverts. However, feather sexing is not universally applicable to all chicken breeds.

Wing feather development

The sex of most chicken breeds cannot be determined at hatching. However, there are some auto-sexing breeds that hatch with distinctive markings or feathering. For example, Summerdell Chicks and ISA Browns hatch with obvious male or female characteristics. Plymouth Blue Rocks and Bielefelders, on the other hand, have a mix of obviously male, obviously female, and ambiguous chicks.

One method of determining the sex of chicks is to observe their wing feather development. This technique is most effective within the first few days after hatching and is applicable to certain breeds that exhibit sex-linked feathering traits. In these breeds, female chicks typically have longer primary wing feathers compared to their coverts (the smaller feathers on top), while male chicks have primary feathers that are about the same length as their coverts. This method of feather sexing or wing-sexing is less invasive than vent sexing and can be quick and reliable for some breeds, but it does not work on most pure breeds.

Another way to determine the sex of chicks is through vent sexing, which involves examining the chick's vent cavity or cloaca for the presence of a tiny bump known as the genital papilla, indicating that the chick is male. This method is considered the most accurate way to determine the sex of a chick, but it can be difficult to perform correctly and may hurt or damage the chick if done incorrectly. Therefore, it is recommended to have a professional perform the procedure.

As chicks grow older, additional traits can help identify their sex. By three weeks of age, male chicks tend to develop more prominent and darker combs than females. Male chicks may also start to crow as early as three weeks old, although this is not a sole determinant of sex as some hens may also crow. Between 4-6 months of age, male chicks will develop long, pointy hackle feathers (neck feathers) and sickle feathers (tail feathers), while female feathers will be more uniform in size and less showy.

Comb and wattle development

Chicks of both sexes have combs and wattles, but the rate and nature of their development can be used to determine the chick's gender. Male chicks' combs and wattles tend to develop sooner and become larger and redder than those of females. This difference is noticeable around 6 to 8 weeks of age, though it may take until 10 weeks or older for female chicks' combs and wattles to develop. Male chicks may also strut from an early age with their chests out and heads in the air.

In some breeds, such as Orpingtons, the comb and wattles are not accurate assessments of gender, as both male and female Orpingtons can have large combs and wattles. In these cases, saddle feathers, hackle feathers, and tail feathers are more reliable indicators of gender. Male chicks will have long, pointy saddle feathers, while female chicks' feathers will be more rounded and soft.

It is important to note that comb and wattle development can vary between breeds, so it is recommended to compare chicks of the same breed when using this method to determine gender. Additionally, some hens may exhibit behaviours typically associated with roosters, such as crowing, so multiple indicators should be considered when determining the gender of a chick.

While examining comb and wattle development can provide a good indication of a chick's gender, the most accurate way to determine the sex of a chick is through vent sexing, which involves examining the chick's vent (cloaca) for the presence of a small bump known as the genital papilla, which indicates a male. This method is typically performed by trained professionals and can be difficult to do correctly, so it is not recommended for hobby chicken keepers.

Auto-sexing

The sex of most chicken breeds cannot be determined at hatching. However, auto-sexing breeds of poultry are those in which the sex of newly-hatched chicks can be determined from the colour and markings of their down. The idea of such a breed is credited to geneticist Reginald Punnett, who, in 1928, created the first auto-sexing chicken breed, the Cambar, at the Genetical Institute in Cambridge. Punnett proposed the technique of cross-breeding chickens carrying the barred gene (B) with others to produce sex-linked chicks with plumage differences that could easily be distinguished.

Punnett and Michael Pease created the Cambar by cross-breeding Golden Campines with barred Plymouth Rocks. About ten years later, they produced the Legbar by crossing brown Leghorns with barred Plymouth Rocks. Several other auto-sexing breeds exist, such as Plymouth Rock, Bielefelder Kennhuhn, Niederrheiner, and Norwegian Jærhøns. Most breeds that end with '-bar' are auto-sexing, such as Welbar, Rhodebar, Brussbar, or Wybar. The Cream Legbar is a well-known example of an auto-sexing breed, and its blue eggs have likely kept it popular.

Purebred Cuckoo Marans are almost an auto-sexing breed because male chicks are usually lighter in colour than females, although this is not 100% accurate. Other examples of auto-sexing breeds include the Bielefelder Kennhuhn, created from a cross between Welsummer and Cuckoo Malines; Brockbar, a cross between a buff Plymouth Rock and a Barred Plymouth Rock; and Brussbar, a cross between a brown Leghorn and a Light Sussex.

While auto-sexing breeds can be identified by colour and markings at hatching, it is important to note that the sex of other breeds may not be apparent until they are older. Male chicks tend to grow larger and develop more prominent and darker combs than females. By 8-10 weeks of age, male chicks will have long, pointed saddle feathers, while females will have rounded saddle feathers.

Frequently asked questions