Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

Ok, I've been looking to see if I can find the answer so, I'm asking here.

As you know I have a bunch of chicks that are a week old now, some are getting tail feathers, where as others aren't. Is it safe to guess that the ones without tail feather are going to be cockerals and the tail feathered ones pullets?

What's been your experiences?

Sometimes, but not always. At one week old, I think it may be a little early to tell, since individual chicks may feather out at a slower rate; that's been what I've observed with the chicks I've raised anyway. It also depends on the breed to some extent as well.

That's what i was afraid of...lol looks like im keeping all 15 for a few weeks

I’ve been watching for the same thing! I just heard about that method of sexing, and it’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.
Also their little tiny tails are so cute!

Doesn't seem to matter with chicks I've had, maybe I don't keep a close enough eye. I will say mine have usually turned out to be male but not always. With the silkies I have been fooled right up to the day they crowed.

kenya wrote: ↑

Fri May 03, 2019 10:00 am

Doesn't seem to matter with chicks I've had, maybe I don't keep a close enough eye. I will say mine have usually turned out to be male but not always. With the silkies I have been fooled right up to the day they crowed.

Is that with or without tail feathers?
Silkies keep you guessing right up until they crow. I did wing sex my current little one and since I only have it I'll see if I was right or not ...it just sooooo, darn loooong to know if you wre right...I forgotten what my initial guess wss

Ha!Ha! Yes I too often forget but PTO is a great reminder if you put pictures saying guess the sex, you can always go back and see what you guessed. Funny how sometimes you know for sure and are right and other times you are dead wrong!

Here's one of my experiences with chicks feathering in! I haven't really found that I could tell sex by feathering patterns.
Happy @ For WWW...What am I?

Thanks @Happy, based on that thread, I would have gotten rid of my blue Cochin chick! L
I'm keeping all of them until I know for sure.

Outside!

Oh they look so nice outside!
My last silkie slow to get tail feathers turned out to be male, I was sure he was a she right up till he crowed. He didn't get any comb till he was older either. Just slow to mature I guess.