At what age do you tell the difference between hens and roosters?

Answer 1

Difference Between Hens and RoostersColor can be a determination in some breeds, such as Red Pyle Game birds, and particularly in sex-linked chicks, but is not a reliable way of sexing chickens. Crowing can also be misleading, although it is nearly always an indicator of a male bird. Ultimately, however, hens lay eggs, and roosters do not.

The easiest way to know what gender chickens are by the novice small flock owner is to care for the birds until they begin showing the natural secondary characteristics of their gender.

In males, the combs and wattles will become larger than those on females and the head will become more angular and masculine looking. Spurs will start to develop on the inside on the leg of the male. The female will remain smaller than the male and is more refined or feminine looking.

At about two months old and if the chickens are free range, tossing something over their heads.This often will produce a noticeable reaction that will help you. The hens will put their heads down and remain still, this is instinctive for hens,they "get small and stay still" the roosters among the flock will look up and run around looking for the perceived danger. They may also make cackling sounds as the reassure the hens that they are looking out for them.

Answer 2

Difference Between Roosters and Hens

• The hen is smaller and has a smaller tail, comb and wattle.

The rooster is bigger has a larger tail, comb and wattle.

• We look at their legs. Check to see if they have little knots on their legs where the spurs would be.

• Males have longer necks and are usually taller, and they have a sort of a thick part of skin where their spurs will grow as they age.

• Also on some types the tail feathers are more pointy and on hens they are more rounded.

Answer 3

AnswerWhen the feathers start coming in take notice to the wing feather line. Gently hold the chick in question in the palm of your hand. With your other hand, gently spread out one wing. If the feathers have a jagged or crooked feather line, it is a female. A straight feather line is a male chick. Usually you can do this within a week after hatching.

Also

Feather sexing is based on feather characteristics that differ between male and female chicks.The feather appearances are determined by specially selected genetic traits that must be present in the chick strain you are looking at. Most breeds of chickens do not have these feather sexing characteristics and the feathering of both sexes appear identical.

Vent sexing or identifying the sex of a day old chick by looking at its sexual organs is done by a few, very well trained people. It takes a long time to learn how to identify the more than 15 different shapes. The novice or untrained poultry handler can seriously injure the chick by attempting to squeeze the vent open to look at something they don't recognize anyway.

The easiest method of sexing chickens by the novice (new) small flock owner is to care for the birds until they begin showing the natural secondary characteristics of their sex. In males, the combs and wattles will become larger than those on females and the head will become more angular and masculine looking. The female will remain smaller than the male and is more refined or feminine looking.

Day one if you are VERY EXPERIENCED. Most hatcheries have people on staff (usually Japanese based on the need for sexing in a country with limited space) that sex day old chicks. They squeeze the chick to release fecal material then flip it over, open the vent and look for a small lump to determine male or female.

Answer 4

They usually start trying around 3 months of age, though they sometimes start much earlier, even at a few days old. It takes several weeks, though, for them to get the hang of it.

Answer 5

Experts can tell when they are very young, but most of us have to wait till they are old enough to crow sometime after 3 months old. You can try some of the old fashioned ways when they are young but they are not 100% accurate. Hold chick in cup of hand and very gently lift up by the head with the forefinger and thumb of the other hand till feet are no longer resting on the cupped hand. Hens relax and comply, roosters fight.

Answer 6

While it may be difficult for some people to distinguish between a hen and rooster at an early stage in their life cycle, there are some certain ways to tell the difference. Roosters have a brighter comb at the top of their head. They also tend to have brighter feathers at an early age.

Answer 7

Hens lay eggs. Roosters crow and are a larger bird.

Answer 8

Cockerels will begin practice mating around 7 months old and be ready to mount in and around 8 months old depending on the breed of chicken you have.