Sex of chick?

[TheyBeChillin]

Perhaps I’m crazy. Maybe I’m not. But I’ve heard some sources say you can sex an olive egger and some sources say you can’t.

I bought these chicks from a local breeder, and I don’t want to get super attached to a chick to find out it’s a rooster. They were hatched Monday.

Both have black heads. But one’s face is entirely black ( assuming she’s female ) and the others face has a singular white dot next to his beak. Is this an auto sexing breed?

I’m assuming it’s a maran mixed with something else I’m unsure of. They both have feathered feet which is why I’m assuming maran.

This is the first chick

This is the 2nd one

I’ve heard of wing sexing, but I also know that isn’t always accurate and only works for certain breeds.

Again, I could be just being impatient

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Likely can't sex those ones. If you use a barred mother and a solid black/blue father, you can sex the chicks but the dot by the beak means nothing.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Likely can't sex those ones. If you use a barred mother and a solid black/blue father, you can sex the chicks but the dot by the beak means nothing.

Okay, thanks! I was afraid of that I’ll just have to be patient

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve heard some sources say you can sex an olive egger and some sources say you can’t.

Both sources can be correct thanks to a tiny word in the English language "if". This apples to any chick, not just Olive Eggers. If the parents are set up correctly genetically you can identify the sex of any chick at hatch. If they are not set up correctly then you cannot. It sounds like you don't have much of a clue of the genetic background of that chick, let alone its parents. Breeds other than Marans have feathered legs.

There are several different ways to sex a chick: down color if the father has gold and the mother has silver, the spot if the mother is barred and the father isn't, or by wing sexing if the father is fast-feathering and the mother is slow feathering. There are a few others but these are the main three methods used.

When they are 5 weeks old post photos. I like one photo showing a close-up of the comb and wattles, a second showing the legs and posture. Often we can tell at 5 weeks if they are boy or girl. Not always but often. Until then, yeah, patience. Not always easy.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Both sources can be correct thanks to a tiny word in the English language "if". This apples to any chick, not just Olive Eggers. If the parents are set up correctly genetically you can identify the sex of any chick at hatch. If they are not set up correctly then you cannot. It sounds like you don't have much of a clue of the genetic background of that chick, let alone its parents. Breeds other than Marans have feathered legs.

There are several different ways to sex a chick: down color if the father has gold and the mother has silver, the spot if the mother is barred and the father isn't, or by wing sexing if the father is fast-feathering and the mother is slow feathering. There are a few others but these are the main three methods used.

When they are 5 weeks old post photos. I like one photo showing a close-up of the comb and wattles, a second showing the legs and posture. Often we can tell at 5 weeks if they are boy or girl. Not always but often. Until then, yeah, patience. Not always easy.

Thanks for all this information!! I’ll send a picture in a couple weeks!

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Does the difference in development of the wings/tail feathers at this stage mean anything?

I’ve read where some people say yes while others argue no

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does the difference in development of the wings/tail feathers at this stage mean anything?

Some people will say yes. But I will not. They are less than 2 weeks old. To me they are too old to be wing sexed, if that was ever possible. Other factors in feather development have come into play.

I understand how frustrating this is. But I still think you need to wait until they are 5 weeks old to post photos. That may still be too young.

 

[TheyBeChillin]

Some people will say yes. But I will not. They are less than 2 weeks old. To me they are too old to be wing sexed, if that was ever possible. Other factors in feather development have come into play.

I understand how frustrating this is. But I still think you need to wait until they are 5 weeks old to post photos. That may still be too young.

Okay! Thank you- and thank you for being patient with my impatience!!

I’m partly more impatient because where I live it’s illegal to own a rooster, and I’d be concerned a neighbor might report us. I wouldn’t mind having a rooster if it weren’t for that since they have their benefits.

But anyway I’d be concerned I wouldn’t have enough time to rehome him before having to move him outside