Sexing

**Snadger** · 02-07-2009, 05:46 AM

I have one which I am unsure of and I won't know until she lays an egg or he crows!

**MaureenHall** · 02-07-2009, 06:06 AM

Only sure way when they're not an autosexing breed is when they either crow or lay an egg. What breed is yours and how old? If it's a newly hatched, then girls tend to start to get their tail feathers before boys, boys around 10 days or so

**Moony Moon** · 02-07-2009, 06:47 AM

Yep I am aware of the lay or crow methoed :-)

No idea of the breed, she is a cross hybrid from a friend as Mavis went broody so we just stuck a couple of fertile eggs and hoped for the best....both hatched but one died after a couple of days :-(
The hatched on the 18th June and i think tail feathers did come quite early on, but to be fair i have no other chicks or experience of hatching to compare to.
We're praying its a girl, so i guess we'll have to wait and see....fingers crossed!

**bluemoon** · 02-07-2009, 11:08 AM

If you look at the hackle feathers they are pointed on cockerels and more rounded on hens, though again this is difficult if you haven't any comparison. Cockerels also have thicker legs - another useless test for you, sorry. Some breeds are almost impossible to sex until they crow or lay an egg though. A young cockerel may start trying to crow at a fairly young age and makes a sound which has been described by others here as 'like a strangulated goose'. That's actually a remarkably accurate description and if you hear it you'll certainly recognise it.

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