A simple, non-invasive way to guess chick sex early. Works mainly on fast-feathering breeds (like layers, broilers and some hybrids).

A. Female Chicks (Pullets):
The primary feathers (longer ones at the edge) grow out faster than the covert feathers (shorter ones covering them).

   

This creates a “two-step” pattern — long feathers + short feathers.

B. Male Chicks (Cockerels):
Primaries and coverts grow at about the same rate.

The wing looks smooth and even, forming a single curve.

C. When It Works Best:
Most reliable in the first 1–3 days after hatching.

After that, the differences become harder to see.

D. Accuracy:
Can be 80–90% accurate when done by skilled hands.

Not reliable for all chicken breeds (especially slow-feathering ones).

Hatcheries often use it alongside vent sexing or simply wait until chicks mature.

E. Why It’s Useful:
Quick, cheap, and doesn’t harm the chick.

Handy for backyard farmers and small breeders.

Feather sexing is a smart trick, but it only works on some breeds and very early in life.

Accuracy depends on breed: broilers (85–90%), layers (80–85%), local birds (40–50%). So manage your expectations.

Reminder: primaries = long feathers at the edge, coverts = short feathers on top. If long > short, it’s pullet. If equal, it’s cockerel.

Wow, I never knew feather growth could tell the difference that early. ? I usually just wait until the comb and wattles show before I separate them, but that takes weeks. I’ll definitely try this the next time I buy chicks.

Some hatcheries in Asia combine feather sexing with AI cameras now. They can do thousands per hour with high accuracy. Here is what I got:

"Xiashu Technology (Asia) offers AI-powered feather sexing machines that determine chick gender with 99% accuracy, processing up to 3,000 chicks per hour .

These systems are easy to operate and effective across broilers, layers, and even turkeys, demonstrating practical reliability in commercial hatchery settings .

TARGAN’s WingScan system is another major innovation using AI-based imaging to identify chick sex from feathers.

Accuracy: Over 97–98%, depending on configuration .

Speed: Processes 100,000 to 160,000 chicks per hour .

Numerous hatcheries have adopted it globally, including a Canadian hatchery using WingScan to replace labor-intensive manual sorting .

A Spanish facility now uses WingScan to sex up to 1.25 million chicks per week .

Other AI systems in Europe and Southeast Asia also employ high-speed AI feather imaging to sex chicks at high accuracy (~98%) and up to tens of thousands per hour."

Yes, feather sexing is very good, but it doesn’t work on all breeds. I’ve tried it on slow-feathering types like some local chickens and it gave me mixed results. Good for layers like Isa Brown or broilers, less than 3 days old.

Hmm, I’ve heard of this method but I thought it was just guesswork. So it's true.

This is a lifesaver for small farmers. Vent sexing is almost impossible without training, and waiting till 6–8 weeks to know is too long. Even if it’s 80–90% accurate, it’s better than feeding males when you want only egg layers.

For people doing small hatches at home, even 70% accuracy is still helpful. Imagine not wasting feed on extra males.

If it’s only 80% accurate, doesn’t that mean 20 out of 100 chicks will still be wrong? That’s risky for large farms.

Another quick trick I use is to watch their behavior - pullets tend to be calmer while cockerels are more restless and bold. Not 100% reliable, but when combined with feather sexing, the accuracy improves.

I know about this. Take a few chicks side by side and compare. The difference shows better when you look at 2–3 at once.

Nice share. Feather sexing was actually developed by hatcheries in the 1930s. Faaar back. Works great on fast-feathering breeds, but useless on slow-feathering genetics.

My chicks move too much. By the time I spread their wings, they flap and I can’t see a thing. Maybe I need 3 hands ?.

I tried it today on day-old Isa Browns. Clear as daylight! The girls had that “step” in the wing feathers. Amazing.

(09-01-2025, 11:52 PM)Farmqueen Wrote: Some hatcheries in Asia combine feather sexing with AI cameras now. They can do thousands per hour with high accuracy. Here is what I got:

"Xiashu Technology (Asia) offers AI-powered feather sexing machines that determine chick gender with 99% accuracy, processing up to 3,000 chicks per hour .

These systems are easy to operate and effective across broilers, layers, and even turkeys, demonstrating practical reliability in commercial hatchery settings .

TARGAN’s WingScan system is another major innovation using AI-based imaging to identify chick sex from feathers.

Accuracy: Over 97–98%, depending on configuration .

Speed: Processes 100,000 to 160,000 chicks per hour .

Numerous hatcheries have adopted it globally, including a Canadian hatchery using WingScan to replace labor-intensive manual sorting .

A Spanish facility now uses WingScan to sex up to 1.25 million chicks per week .

Other AI systems in Europe and Southeast Asia also employ high-speed AI feather imaging to sex chicks at high accuracy (~98%) and up to tens of thousands per hour."

The world is really advancing

(09-02-2025, 01:37 AM)John@ Wrote: If it’s only 80% accurate, doesn’t that mean 20 out of 100 chicks will still be wrong? That’s risky for large farms.

Large farms don't rely on it alone.  They combine it with vent sexing

(09-02-2025, 01:37 AM)Suarus Wrote: For people doing small hatches at home, even 70% accuracy is still helpful. Imagine not wasting feed on extra males.

Or in case of broilers, you can use it to select males.

(09-02-2025, 01:07 AM)Locus Wrote: Hmm, I’ve heard of this method but I thought it was just guesswork. So it's true.

It is true. Try it