White Leghorn chick sexing [ 6 to 8 week old ]

[Mrs Wick]

I usually hatch my chicks but as I have already too many roosters and found a classified ad about female chicks I decided to buy some.

I bought for the first time a Leghorn chick. So I trusted the buyer saying it's a female between 6 and 8 weeks old. I noticed a large comb but she said Leghorn hens 've got big combs.

And I begin to wonder...is my chick really a female ?
If not, I plan to go back to the buyer and ask for an exchange.

See pictures of the chick, alone, and side to side with a cream Legbar adult hen. PLEASE HELP !

 

[shaileen]

Your suspicion may be right, I think the leghorn does have bigger combs but it looks really pink, a pullet would be more yellow in the comb and wattles I think

 

[Mrs Wick]

When are Leghorn cockerel starting to crow ?
I may keep the chick inside to check and be sure

 

[samanthaoverton]

My leghorn/Rhode island mix is three months on the 3 of this month and has been crowing two weeks. Of course he is hearing his daddy crow in the near vicenity.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

And I begin to wonder...is my chick really a female ?

Red wattles at the stated age are definitely cockerel regardless of comb size.

Wattles turning red are the very first early sign. His comb will match in color shortly.

Females will not get them until closer to 14 weeks, except during flushing like if they're hot.

I'd be highly shocked if that were a pullet. The first and last photos seem telling, presuming it isn't the lighting fooling me. And I don't think so.

Some won't crow before a year old or later while others have crowed as early as 3 weeks! Another week or two would have developed the comb and wattles enough to eliminate any question.

Pointy male specific saddle feathers start to come in around 10-12 weeks and are usually showing well by 16 weeks..

I wouldn't presume after waiting that long that the seller would have another bird to trade (between other buyers, predators, etc). Did she have others for you to choose from right now? Or that you could at least see for comparison?

 

[samanthaoverton]

This is a pullet. It was taken may 19. She was born March 24.

 

[shaileen]

When are Leghorn cockerel starting to crow ?
I may keep the chick inside to check and be sure

Any age really, I’ve had roosters try and crow at 8 weeks old and some that don’t crow until they are fully grown but by that point you’ll know if it’s a roo or not but I would suggest talking to the buyer and either trading it or getting a refund

 

[Painted Calls]

Still looks like a pullet to me. Leghorn males get combs really early. Usually by 4 weeks, their combs are 4 times that size.

@EmmaRainboe
@Rhodebar Lover
@JedJackson
@ColtHandorf
@TheOddOneOut
@cherrynberry

 

[ColtHandorf]

Looks like a pullet to me.

 

[JedJackson]

I think pullet. Moonshiner would know best with Leghorns.