Growing Up and Feathering Out

You’ll be able to notice changes in your chicks nearly on a daily basis if you look closely! Here is what you can expect as your chicks grow up.

Key Points Summary

• The progression of feathering out:
• Wings
• Tail
• Body
• Head

• The breed of chicken determines how quickly they will grow. Broilers, or meat birds, grow the fastest. Broilers are also more sparsely feathered than egg-laying breeds.
• As chicks feather out, they will become more mobile. It’s important to make sure the brooder is secure against escaping chicks.

Determining the Sex of Chicks

There are tons of myths and old wives’ tales when it comes to determining the sex of chicks. The truth is, it’s actually quite difficult to determine this on your own. We’ll cover some reliable methods of determining sex. Just remember, many times you’ll just have to wait and see!

Key Points Summary

• Most hatcheries offer the option to purchase sexed chicks or straight-run chicks.
• Hatcheries often use the vent sexing method, which requires skill, training, and an eye for detail to observe the minor differences in the cloaca, just inside the chick’s vent.
• Feather sexing only applies to certain breeds or crosses and must be performed before three days of age.
• Sex-linking and auto-sexing use differences in feather colors or patterns at hatch to determine the sex of chicks.