Whether you’ve hatched out a brood of chicks, bought straight-run chicks, or even bought sexed chicks, knowing which birds are hens and which ones are roosters can be tricky! Chickens have about a 50/50 gender ratio, meaning about 50% of fertile eggs will hatch as roosters and 50% will be hens.
In general, when baby chicks first hatch, there are few ways to accurately identify their sex–and no 100%, fail-proof accurate assessment method. But as they get older, there are some signs you can look for to tell if your chickens are roosters, hens, or a mix of the two! We will talk about how to tell the difference between a rooster and a hen as your chickens get older.
One of the best things about becoming a chicken owner for the first time is getting your first batch of cute, fluffy baby chicks. But before you can care for them properly, you need to know what breed they are. Even when the chicks are very young, there are easy ways to tell what kind they are.
Look at Their Size
One of the first things you’ll notice about baby chicks is their size There are standard sized breeds and smaller bantam breeds Bantams, like Silkies and Cochins, will be noticeably smaller as chicks compared to standard chicks of a similar age. If you have a mix of tiny peeps and regular sized chicks, chances are you have some bantams in the flock.
Examine Their Feet
Check your chicks’ feet for clues about their breed. Some breeds have feathered feet as chicks, like Cochins, Brahmas, and Silkies. Feathered feet indicate your chick is from one of these breeds. Also look at the color of the feet. Dark feet indicate breeds like Silkies with black skin. Extra toes can also be a giveaway of breeds like Silkies. Clean, scaley yellow or white feet indicate breeds without feathered feet.
Observe Their Head and Face
The head can reveal a lot about baby chick breeds. Fluffy cheeks are characteristic of Easter Eggers. Tiny crests or poufs on top of the head indicate breeds like Polish with head tufts. Dark beaks on yellow chicks signal Welsummers and other breeds. Face shape and eye color may also give hints to the breed.
Note Their Color Patterns
While color is not the most reliable identifier, distinctive colors and patterns can help narrow down chick breeds. Solid black, buff, or white chicks indicate breeds that match those colors. Striped, mottled, or speckled chicks showcase the patterns of breeds like Barred Rocks, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, and Speckled Sussex.
Review Hatchery Records
If you obtained your chicks from a hatchery, check the records of what was shipped to you. Reputable hatcheries keep detailed records of the breed, sex, and quantities of the chicks they ship to customers. While mix-ups can occasionally happen, in most cases hatchery records accurately identify what you received.
Watch Their Behavior
Behavioral traits can point to certain breeds too. Active, skittish chicks may be Leghorns or other flighty breeds. Orpingtons and Brahmas are two breeds that tend to have calm, quiet chicks. More likely to be good roosting breeds are chicks that perch than ones that stay on the ground. Vocal chicks could indicate noisy breeds like Delawares.
Consider Egg Shell Color
If you raised the chicks yourself, look at the colors of the egg shells again. Lighter chicks usually hatch from white or lightly tinted eggs, but this isn’t always the case. Darker chicks usually hatch from brown eggs. The color of the egg shell and other clues can help you tell what breed of chick it is.
Separate Mixed Batches
If you have a bunch of different breeds of chicks, put them into groups based on their physical traits and characteristics to tell them apart. Compare against breed standards to identify each group. If you order a mixed assortment, you might get groups of two or three breeds.
Consult the Experts
If you are still stumped after using these methods to identify your baby chicks, ask your hatchery or feed store for help. Bring pictures of the chicks showing key physical features. Poultry experts are often able to determine breeds based on chick appearance and behaviors. Consider ordering a breed identification blood test if you want definitive proof.
Be Patient and Enjoy the Surprise!
Part of the fun with baby chicks is watching their colors and features develop as they mature. If you aren’t able to pinpoint exact breed, that’s okay! Wait and see what they turn into. With good general chick care, you will end up with a healthy flock of hens regardless of precise breed. Let their personalities unfold and enjoy your flock.
With a little detective work and patience, you should be able to determine what kind of baby chickens you have. Getting to know each breed will help you better meet their needs and enjoy watching them grow into a lively flock! Let the chick adventures begin!
# Sexual Dimorphism
If you aren’t raising an auto-sexing breed or a sex-linked breed, and since vent sexing isn’t an option for most backyard chicken keepers, your last option for sexing chicks is sexual dimorphism. As technical as it sounds, sexual dimorphism is simply the method of identifying a chick’s sex as it matures and starts to exhibit physical and behavioral characteristics indicative of hens and roosters.
Sex differences may not be useful when chicks are first hatched, but they can be useful when they are older. You might be able to tell the difference between male and female chicks as early as two to three weeks old in some breeds.
When using sexual dimorphism, you are looking for observable changes in behavior or appearance. It is most helpful when you are raising straight-run chicks since you will more than likely have both male and female chicks to compare to each other as they mature.
If you use sexual dimorphism to sex your chicks, you can tell the difference between a cockerel (a male chicken younger than one year) and a pullet (a female chicken younger than one year). Cockerels and pullets are small versions of adult roosters and hens, so they will act and look like an adult rooster or hen.
Here are some characteristics to keep an eye out for as your chicks grow and mature:
- Larger comb & wattles
- Longer tail
- Pointier-shaped feathers (look at the neck and saddle feathers)
- Stockier legs & stockier body
- Sparring
- Attempting to crow
- Tibitting
- Trying to court & mount pullets
- More alert and aware of their surroundings
- Bolder and more adventurous
In some breeds, these characteristics will become obvious more quickly. Chicken breeds that are fast maturing or whose roosters mature quickly are easier to sex at a young age.
- Smaller comb & wattles
- Shorter tail
- Rounded feathers
- Thinner, more petite build
- When you think you might be in danger, like when a hen comes close or when you go to pick her up, squat.
- Spend time with other pullets and think more like a flock.
- Responds to cockerel’s tidbitting or courting
Pullets will be easier to identify if you have at least one cockerel in your brood, that way you can compare the pullets’ maturity to the cockerel’s behaviors and appearance.
# Barred Rock Rooster vs Hen
Barred Plymouth Rocks are actually an auto-sexing breed. The auto-sexing characteristics are not 100% accurate in the barred variety, but if you get birds with good genetics the following auto-sexing traits should hold true for sexing the chicks:
- Roosters are bigger.
- Hens: The head spot is more defined, and the down is a very dark black color.
You may hear that some people say male Barred Rocks are white with black stripes while female Barred Rocks are black with white stripes. This is accurate in that the roosters have a lighter coloration overall.
How to Identify Male and Female Chicks
FAQ
How do I identify baby chicks?
For example, single combs appear on Leghorns, whereas Rosecombs are typical for some other breeds. By focusing on these visual cues, you can more quickly and accurately identify the breed of your baby chicks. Identifying baby chicks becomes easier with the right tools and resources. Utilize the following options for better results.
How do I know what kind of Chicken I have?
The best method to determine the kind of chicken you have is assess 6 key indicators. So if you already have your chickens settling into their new home, and you want to know what kind of breed you’ve got, or even just facts about age and gender, the above key indicators are the best ones to check. Let’s go through them individually.
How do you know if a chicken is a good breed?
There are numerous chicken breeds available. Each one is different in terms of the color, size, and shape of its feathers, as well as the color and size of its eggs. The best way to identify a chicken breed is to look first at it’s weight and height, feather color and it’s behavior. If you are raising chickens for a long time, it will be very easy for you.
How to identify chickens by their body shape?
So, you can identify chickens by their body shape. Different chicken breeds have different combs and wattles. Combs and wattles have a great importance for identifying chickens breed. With some breeds of chicken combs and wattles are almost entirely associated. Silkie chicken breed has round, bumpy and perched combs on the front of their head.
How do you know if a baby chick has a spot?
Spotting: Some chicks display spots, like the Speckled Sussex. Observe these patterns closely, as they can change as the chick grows. Pay attention to the feather texture as well, since down feathers are soft and fluffy, while juvenile feathers start to show more structure. Size variations exist among different breeds of baby chicks.
How do you know if a chicken is a hen?
Your chicken’s behavior might offer some clues about its breed. The comb type is another key indicator to help identify a chicken. Some common comb types include single, pea, rose, and V-shaped combs. For example, Cornish, Brahmas, and Sumatras typically have pea combs, while Houdans and Sultans boast V-shaped combs.
How to identify baby chick breeds?
How to Identify ChicksWhat comb the chick has? This can narrow down breed options. Does the chick have feathered legs? This narrows down breed options a lot. Does the chick have a beard or crest? These are extra fluffy parts under the beak or on the back/top of the head.
How do I figure out what kind of chicken I have?
Combs. The comb of a chicken is the usually bright red flap on top of their head. There are many different shaped combs, and each chicken breed is consistent with their comb type. For example, my Barred Rocks have a single (straight) comb while my Brahmas have a pea comb.
What app identifies chicken breeds?
The CBI (Chicken Breed Identifier) can quickly and accurately tell the difference between different types of chickens. To get the best results get very close shot to the birds preferrably showing features such as head and tail and legs (Side view of the bird is the best).