Is it possible to feather/wing sex 2.5 week old chick?

[MrsEarthern]

1. Where did you get the bird? Egg laid by one of my five hens, sired by my rooster, Nightshade. Hatched June 8-9, 2024.

2. Are they from a feed store, hatchery, or breeder? Rooster and one hen from breeder, three hens from feed store.

3. If you bought them from a hatchery, which breeds did you select? See #5.

4. If they came from a breeder, what were they supposed to be, and what other breeds/varieties did the seller have? My first six birds came from a breeder claiming they were Black Australorp - Buff Orpington Crosses. I ended up with four roos, including the sire, Nightshade. He was solid black until his first molt ~22 weeks old. The remaining hen is pale gray/lavender with pale brown markings.
Seller also had Silver-lace Wyandottes, Barred Rock, White Leghorns, and Easter Eggers.

5. If they were bought at a feed store, what breeds or varieties were listed? Three Black sex-link hens. Feed store does a sort of pre-sale, ordered from McMurray, and the BSL were the only birds ordered and available on the day of purchase.

The pale chick in question, Waapa (Wah-Pa) hatched as a singleton approximately June 8-9, 2024, and is about five days older than its oldest brood mates. Pin feathers and feather development has been quick, within a couple of days; the chick's wing feathers have developed a pattern similar to my hen, Lavender.

Photo take June 9, 2024.



June 13, 2024.

June 13, 2024.

June 15, 2024.

June 15, 2024.



June 23, 2024.

June 24, 2024

June 24, 2024.

June 26, 2024.

June 26, 2024.

June 26, 2024.
Waapa is ~2.5 weeks old, the other two clearly visible chicks are almost a week old.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

No, it wouldn't be.

Wing sexing only works on chicks from fast feathering males x slow feathering females.

 

[ChickenFriends234]

1. Where did you get the bird? Egg laid by one of my five hens, sired by my rooster, Nightshade. Hatched June 8-9, 2024.

2. Are they from a feed store, hatchery, or breeder? Rooster and one hen from breeder, three hens from feed store.

3. If you bought them from a hatchery, which breeds did you select? See #5.

4. If they came from a breeder, what were they supposed to be, and what other breeds/varieties did the seller have? My first six birds came from a breeder claiming they were Black Australorp - Buff Orpington Crosses. I ended up with four roos, including the sire, Nightshade. He was solid black until his first molt ~22 weeks old. The remaining hen is pale gray/lavender with pale brown markings.
Seller also had Silver-lace Wyandottes, Barred Rock, White Leghorns, and Easter Eggers.

5. If they were bought at a feed store, what breeds or varieties were listed? Three Black sex-link hens. Feed store does a sort of pre-sale, ordered from McMurray, and the BSL were the only birds ordered and available on the day of purchase.

The pale chick in question, Waapa (Wah-Pa) hatched as a singleton approximately June 8-9, 2024, and is about five days older than its oldest brood mates. Pin feathers and feather development has been quick, within a couple of days; the chick's wing feathers have developed a pattern similar to my hen, Lavender.

View attachment 3874296 Photo take June 9, 2024.



View attachment 3874302 June 13, 2024.

View attachment 3874308 June 13, 2024.

View attachment 3874311 June 15, 2024.

View attachment 3874312 June 15, 2024.



View attachment 3874316 June 23, 2024.

View attachment 3874323 June 24, 2024

View attachment 3874319 June 24, 2024.

View attachment 3874328 June 26, 2024.

View attachment 3874331 June 26, 2024.

View attachment 3874333 June 26, 2024.
Waapa is ~2.5 weeks old, the other two clearly visible chicks are almost a week old.

lt is quite hard to sex a 2 week old chick but there is a way to do it and it is vent sexing, which is opening its vent and

1. A sexer can look for a small bump that indicates the chick is male or a shiny bubble that indicates it's a rooster.
2. This method is the most accurate by far but if the chick is like 3 or 4 week then you cant see its vent due to feathers covering it.
3. Thanks!!

 

[ChickenFriends234]

lt is quite hard to sex a 2 week old chick but there is a way to do it and it is vent sexing, which is opening its vent and

1. A sexer can look for a small bump that indicates the chick is male or a shiny bubble that indicates it's a rooster.
2. This method is the most accurate by far but if the chick is like 3 or 4 week then you cant see its vent due to feathers covering it.
3. Thanks!!

Also if there is a small bump then its a male but if it is clear then it is a female

 

[EmmaRainboe]

lt is quite hard to sex a 2 week old chick but there is a way to do it and it is vent sexing, which is opening its vent and

1. A sexer can look for a small bump that indicates the chick is male or a shiny bubble that indicates it's a rooster.
2. This method is the most accurate by far but if the chick is like 3 or 4 week then you cant see its vent due to feathers covering it.
3. Thanks!!

I would not recommend anyone try vent sexing unless they have a really good idea of what they are doing.

 

[MrsEarthern]

I would not recommend anyone try vent sexing unless they have a really good idea of what they are doing.

I will not be vent sexing.

 

[ChickenFriends234]

I would not recommend anyone try vent sexing unless they have a really good idea of what they are doing.

Yea, I figured because I'm a professional at sexing chickens, and this is what I use to sex my baby chicks. But I totally agree that it requires experience.

 

[ChickenFriends234]

I will not be vent sexing.

Yea, no worries just wait and see

 

[MrsEarthern]

No, it wouldn't be.

Wing sexing only works on chicks from fast feathering males x slow feathering females.

Is fast/slow feathering breed specific? My roo has had two molts and you'd never know except that he went from solid black to colorful within about a week, and you wouldn't know he was molting if they weren't all over the enclosed run. The hen I suspect is the bio-mom, Lavender, had a bald back for almost a full year.