How to Tell if a Young Chicken is a Rooster or a Hen

Identify young chickens by watching their behaviors.

Chickens are an uncommon pet that will provide a source of endless fascination for the whole family. If you are trying to tell if your young chickens are male or female, it can be difficult without the obvious physical signs. Thankfully, there are some behavioral clues, in addition to the more obvious physical ones, which will help you to identify which chicks will grow up to be roosters, and which will be hens.

Instructions

1. Startle the chickens by waving your hand over their heads quickly; then study their behavior. Males will stand erect, and keep their heads upright -- while females will crouch to the ground.

2. Study the growth on the chicken's heads, known as the "comb." The males will have a more brightly colored comb than the females.

3. Study the feathers of the chicks, five weeks after they've hatched. The males feathers are patchy and grow-in more slowly than those of the females.

References

• "Raising Chickens For Dummies "; Kimberley Willis and Rob Ludlow; 2009