Sexing Rhode Island Reds

[garfieldGeorgia]

Just to help yall, I found out recently by watching multiple batches, how easy it really is to sex Rhode Island reds. Not at 1 day old, but by about 2 weeks, and just fully confirmed by 4 weeks.

See here. Both 2 and a half weeks old. In both pictures, one is almost fully feathered, and the other hardly has any feathers besides the wings.

The mostly feathered one is a hen, lightly feathered is a rooster. The comb size is bigger on the lightly feathered as well, which you cant see here but if you know you know. That pattern continues through their growth time.
Didn't think it would be that simple for such a mainstream breed, did ya now?

It's not that simple for all breeds. For buff orpingtons and black australorps, the comb size gives it away by 6 weeks. Barred rocks just have hens darker, roosters lighter. But it works!

 

[LaurenRitz]

One sign I have noticed is that the boys often have that white "cap" at the top of their wings.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

Just to help yall, I found out recently by watching multiple batches, how easy it really is to sex Rhode Island reds. Not at 1 day old, but by about 2 weeks, and just fully confirmed by 4 weeks.

See here. Both 2 and a half weeks old. In both pictures, one is almost fully feathered, and the other hardly has any feathers besides the wings.

The mostly feathered one is a hen, lightly feathered is a rooster. The comb size is bigger on the lightly feathered as well, which you cant see here but if you know you know. That pattern continues through their growth time.
Didn't think it would be that simple for such a mainstream breed, did ya now?

It's not that simple for all breeds. For buff orpingtons and black australorps, the comb size gives it away by 6 weeks. Barred rocks just have hens darker, roosters lighter. But it works!

Can you show me a pic of your rooster's comb at 2.5 weeks? Compared to your hen. Thank a bunch !

 

[DragonflyAcres]

I'm watching a recently hatched RIR to see if this works for me! At 1 1/2 weeks I'm thinking it's a girl.....

 

[Yard Farmer]

I would wait till they're 1.5 months old.
You guess their genders at this age is literally guessing. Some cockerels can comb up early, but typically they don't comb up a lot till about 1.5 months old. Then we can help you more efficiently.

 

[DragonflyAcres]

I would wait till they're 1.5 months old.
You guess their genders at this age is literally guessing. Some cockerels can comb up early, but typically they don't comb up a lot till about 1.5 months old. Then we can help you more efficiently.

Yeah I am just guessing, but just for fun. Not making any decisions based on my guess.

 

[Yard Farmer]

Yeah I am just guessing, but just for fun. Not making any decisions based on my guess.

If you're having fun with it, knock yourself out! That's what keeping chickens is all about; a fun experience.

 

[DragonflyAcres]

Just to help yall, I found out recently by watching multiple batches, how easy it really is to sex Rhode Island reds. Not at 1 day old, but by about 2 weeks, and just fully confirmed by 4 weeks.

See here. Both 2 and a half weeks old. In both pictures, one is almost fully feathered, and the other hardly has any feathers besides the wings.

The mostly feathered one is a hen, lightly feathered is a rooster. The comb size is bigger on the lightly feathered as well, which you cant see here but if you know you know. That pattern continues through their growth time.
Didn't think it would be that simple for such a mainstream breed, did ya now?

It's not that simple for all breeds. For buff orpingtons and black australorps, the comb size gives it away by 6 weeks. Barred rocks just have hens darker, roosters lighter. But it works!

So my RIR chick is now 2.5 weeks old and almost fully feathered, looks almost exactly like the one in your photo. I'll see if it turns out to be a girl....