Sexing Rhode Island Red chicks can be difficult for experienced poultry farmers, but there are several different methods you can use to confirm the sex of young chicks.Vent sexing is the most accurate and difficult to perform.Sex-linked crossing is slightly less accurate than feather sexing but is much easier.It takes time and patience to identify the sex of a chick as it grows and develops.
Step 1: Check right away.
After a chick hatch, vent sexing must be done within the first day or two.The sex organ of the chick will be blocked as it eats and grows.You need to check before the chick has a chance to grow.
Step 2: The chick needs to be picked up.
To catch and hold the chick, use your non-dominant hand.You should be able to hold the neck of the chick in between your middle and ring fingers, and the legs inbetween your ring finger and pinky.You need to be able to keep the chick still and secure without applying too much pressure.
Step 3: Remove the chick's bowels.
Use your non-dominant hand to apply gentle pressure to the chick's lower abdomen.The intestinal tract should be empty because of this.The contents of the chick's stomach should be put into a container.A small amount of feces should fall into the waste bin as you squeeze.If you want a clear view of the vent, you need to rid the intestines of waste.
Step 4: Lift the vent.
To press the edge of the chick's vent up, use your non-dominant thumb.Continue pressing until the interior border of the vent is secured.The "vent" of a chick is a hole.The chick's intestines can be damaged by applying too much force.
Step 5: Put the rest of the vent open.
To expose the interior of the chick, fold the vent in half and use the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand.The bottom half of the vent needs to be folded toward the chick's abdomen.Hold it in place with a pinch.
Step 6: You should check for the sex organ.
Look for the male sex organ in the open vent.The chick is likely female if you can't find it.The male sex organ should look like a small bulb.The second of three folds is where it is located.It should look different from the surrounding tissue.Female chick usually have a mild depression or swelling in the same area.You might be able to do this using nothing but the naked eye if you have good eyes.If you can't see the interior vent in detail, you might need to use a scuplture.One out of every five male chicks are not clearly identifiable due to the male process being more difficult to spot.
Step 7: Return the chick.
Release your grip on the vent as soon as you complete the check.The chick can be returned to an upright position.Holding onto the chick for too long can cause more feces to drop.If you want to perform this process, you should get professional training.
Step 8: Check early.
Within the first ten days of a chick's life, you should perform feather sexing.You won't notice a difference in wing feather size or color after the tenth day because feather development usually evens out by that point.
Step 9: The chick needs to be held steady.
Pick up the chick with your non-dominant hand.You need access to at least one wing if you don't have the exact placement of your fingers.To prevent the chick from dropping as it moves, you need to have a firm grip on it.
Step 10: The wing needs to be stretched.
Lift the chick's wing away from the body by pinching the outer edge.You don't need to extend the wing to its full length, but you do need a complete view of the chick's pinfeathers.
Step 11: Look at the feather size.
There are rows of pinfeathers for both males and females in many cases.If the chicks have been bred with this trait in mind, feather size will be an accurate determination of sex.Even though it does work with most girls, it is not an accurate method.
Step 12: The color is important.
Female chick do not have a white spot on the down over the web of the wing.The spot may only be visible for a few days.The down will disappear after it is shed.It might be difficult to see due to the size of the spot being different.
Step 13: The chick needs to be released.
The chick should be returned to its proper location after checking the wing feathers.
Step 14: Understand the principle
Sexing a chick based on sex-linked crosses requires a basic understanding of genetics.Through the sex-determining chromosomes of the parent chickens, feather coloring is a genetic characteristic.The offspring of the mother hen and father rooster will have different sex chromosomes.The sex of the offspring is determined by the mother's chromosomes.Females and males have different Z and W chromosomes.The chick will end up with two Z chromosomes if the mother hen contributes a Z chromosome.The chick will have a Z and W pair if the mother contributes a W.The sex and feather color will be determined by the mother hen's chromosomes.
Step 15: Take a look at the breeding.
Since Rhode Island Red chickens do not have an independent sex-linked coloration trait, the color of a chick's down will only be indicative of its sex when it is bred with another breed.If you know the breed of the parents, you can use the sexlinked method of sexing them.The Rhode Island Red parent is the rooster.In general, the mother hen needs to be a silver, penciled, or barred breed.
Step 16: The color of the down can be seen.
Look at the color of the chick.You should be able to make a decision.If the mother is a barred hen, she will produce males and females that are black or dark brown with a white spot on the head.Male chicks that are either silver, cream, white, or smoky in color will be produced if the mother is a silver or penciled breed.The females will be gold, buff, or red.
Step 17: Give it some time.
If you don't want to rush to have sex with your chick, you can wait until they are mature enough.You should be able to notice adult characteristics within a few weeks.If you get the chick after the initial sexing window has passed, this is a good option.It's the easiest way to determine sex for beginners.
Step 18: Look at the chick's appearance.
The comb is the first trait you will likely notice.The combs are developed within three weeks.Female chick development of feathers is more evenly distributed than male.More pointed tail feathers are produced by males.The female chick has broad, rounded feathers.The average female chick has smaller feet and thicker legs.As the chicks get older, this trait becomes more obvious and can be difficult to spot.
Step 19: You can watch the chick's behavior.
Male chicks are more aggressive than females.Female chick will only make soft noises if they start crowing within six weeks.Men tend to stand their ground when startled.Females are more likely to crouch down.Only females lay eggs.Females can begin laying eggs within 16 to 24 weeks.