Is there a method that is 100% accurate on detecting whether or not a chick is a rooster or a hen? My guess is there is not. Even with the sexing instrument they use to tell the difference it sometimes comes down to a very trained eye. According to most mail order chicken businesses you will find an accuracy record pretty close to 100% but not quite. The mail order business I order my chicks from states that they have a 90% sexing accuracy guarantee and will refund 50% of the cost of each chick that was not the correct sex reported between 10 and 18 weeks. I have ordered from the same company now for two years. The first year all my chicks were hens and was what I specified. This year my chicks are only 4 weeks old and I will not know for sure until later if all 28 are indeed hens.
I have included pictures of Scarlett (a 15 week old Rhode Island Red). Scarlett was named in hopes that she was a hen but only time will tell. She was given to me from a friend who loves chickens as much as I do.
I thought that the spurs on the legs would be a good indicator of whether you had a rooster or a hen but I have learned that most all breeds of chickens have early spur knobs, hens included. See the picture of Scarlett's legs below and you will see the small pimple-like protrusion where a spur may or may not grow.
I have included pictures of Scarlett (a 15 week old Rhode Island Red). Scarlett was named in hopes that she was a hen but only time will tell. She was given to me from a friend who loves chickens as much as I do.
I thought that the spurs on the legs would be a good indicator of whether you had a rooster or a hen but I have learned that most all breeds of chickens have early spur knobs, hens included. See the picture of Scarlett's legs below and you will see the small pimple-like protrusion where a spur may or may not grow.
But since this is not an early indicator of a rooster or a hen, then maybe the tail feathers will be. Here you see Scarlett's tail feathers are a little curly. This may be indication of a rooster but not sure yet.
Her neck feathers are starting to grow a little longer and glossier.
Behavioral signs may be present early in roosters like being bossy, or pushy and intolerant. Recall my previous post about Scarlett being intolerant of other chickens and especially of my dog, Buffy. If Buffy stands still long enough, Scarlett will let her know that she needs to move on. I have read that larger combs and wattles may be an indicator of a rooster but this depends on breeds and can vary within breeds too. I don't know but time will tell if Scarlett is truly Scarlett or maybe Scarlo. Anybody want to take a guess?
