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+--- Thread: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers (/thread-31202.html)
How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 08-29-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 09-01-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Danny - 09-01-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Farmqueen - 09-01-2025
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."
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Trimex - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Locus - 09-02-2025
Hmm, I’ve heard of this method but I thought it was just guesswork. So it's true.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Sendrix - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Suarus - 09-02-2025
For people doing small hatches at home, even 70% accuracy is still helpful. Imagine not wasting feed on extra males.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - John@ - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - FarmKing - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - The Farmer - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Manihot - 09-02-2025
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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - FarmLady - 09-02-2025
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 ?.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Farm-sultan - 09-02-2025
I tried it today on day-old Isa Browns. Clear as daylight! The girls had that “step” in the wing feathers. Amazing.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 09-02-2025
(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
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 09-02-2025
(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
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 09-02-2025
(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.
RE: How to Identify Male and Female Chicks by Wing Feathers - Henlus - 09-02-2025
(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