How to Identify the Sex of a Young Chicken
Even with years of experience, determining the sex of a young chicken can be tricky. One of the earliest behaviors that will allow you to definitively identify gender is the act of crowing, which can take months to occur. Still, other early-developing characteristics can offer an indication of sex. None is 100 percent accurate, but by weighing all of the evidence present in your chicken, you can get a good indication of whether you have a pullet or a cockerel.
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Instructions
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Examine the features of the chicken's head. Males' heads tend to be large and angular; females have smaller and rounder head shapes. Check the comb and wattles as well. On a male, these features can turn from yellow to pink earlier than a female.
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Look at the tail. On females, the tail is straight and quicker to develop. Males will show curvature on their tails, generally appearing at a slower rate.
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Check the chicken's legs. Longer legs with developing spurs indicate a male, while shorter, more delicate legs are a characteristic of females.
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Check the feathering. Cockerel feather growth can be patchy or bare, with slower development when compared to a pullet. Continue checking the feathers as the chicken grows older. Look for oval-shaped, rounded feathering in the hackle and saddle areas to indicate a female. Males' feathers in these areas are longer and pointed.
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Examine the chicken's size and posture. Males may grow larger than females and will stand erect. The lower-set females can be longer but less thick-set.
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Observe the behavior of your chicken. Both pullets and cockerels can be aggressive and loud, but females can also be comparatively meek. Listen for chirps from a male chicken, which is a precursor to crowing.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on the breed, chickens can show varying developmental characteristics. Don't base your identification on just one or two indications of gender.
References
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