Sexing your birds, HELP!!!

I tried all the usual ways that I have learned to try and sex the birds and I am no further forward in what method works, apart from if it lays eggs it's a hen brithness

Valiant was here last night and double checked and we were almost of the same opinion on the ones I had done but found none to be foolproof :flip:

The sex indicator on a thread, amazing but not conclusive
The vent some tightly closed on the cocks and some well open on the hens and then the betweeners
One toe longer on the cocks
Flatter heads on the hens
Bolder and bigger heads on the cocks

We gave up and decided to go by our judgement and hope for the best, so difficult when every one of them are white crazy

Dovescot there is only one sure way, hens lay eggs
All other methods are NOT 100% but I have to say the method I use I have found to be the most accurate and that is the "Toe Method" and I know this is the method that staff use a LPW

I think you will find the needle on a piece of cotton is pretty acurate when done properly. test it by getting someone to put known sex birds is a closed box then holding it over them. when you dont know whats in the box you cant influence the result. This is what I did and got 12 out of 12 right. Also predicted the sex of my friend linda's 2 grandchildren and dispelled any myth's that I'm not a man

lenwadebob wrote:Dovescot there is only one sure way, hens lay eggs
All other methods are NOT 100% but I have to say the method I use I have found to be the most accurate and that is the "Toe Method" and I know this is the method that staff use a LPW

What is the best way to do judge the lengths of the toes as I found the differences minimal

superstar wrote:I think you will find the needle on a piece of cotton is pretty acurate when done properly. test it by getting someone to put known sex birds is a closed box then holding it over them. when you dont know whats in the box you cant influence the result. This is what I did and got 12 out of 12 right. Also predicted the sex of my friend linda's 2 grandchildren and dispelled any mith's that I'm not a man

Valiant uses that method as well but I proved to Valiant that the indicator is influenced by your thoughts on what the bird is. I was not out to prove anything as I just wanted to sex my own birds and can swear that I held it as still as I possibly could and if I thought cock then it swung back and forward and if I thought hen it went round in circles, amazing but true

well get someone to put the bird in a box then you can not be influenced. I have to say I'm the worlds bigest sceptic but was shocked at the accuracy the times I did it. Behaviour is the bigest give away but even that isn't 100% accurate you often get what is termed a cocky hen or hen'y cock. I'm sure you wont be too far off the mark whatever method you use, they must all have their merits as been used by many for a long long time

DOVEScot wrote:

lenwadebob wrote:Dovescot there is only one sure way, hens lay eggs
All other methods are NOT 100% but I have to say the method I use I have found to be the most accurate and that is the "Toe Method" and I know this is the method that staff use a LPW

What is the best way to do judge the lengths of the toes as I found the differences minimal

Gently squeeze the two outer toes towards the centre toe at the ball of the foot without any bias towards outside or inside. Cocks should show a slightly longer inner toe. The difference in length can be minimal but obvious. Hens should be same length.

Another way to do it is put a known cock in a nest box with a bowl in and then add a bird you are unsure of. Watch the way they react and that will also be a good indicator to the sex of the bird.

Another way I got told was to place them on their backs in your hand and the cock will get up straight away where as the hen won't???

I got told by someone that when a hen does a poo she takes a step back first whereas a cock does it where he stands.

chickadiesel wrote:I got told by someone that when a hen does a poo she takes a step back first whereas a cock does it where he stands.

See I told ya men were smarter. They stand still, Women take a step back and tread in it, Women's logic :What!:

I use a wee round magnet on a string, which responds the same way as your needle on a string? I bought the magnets years ago, at the old 'Radio Shack' over here, Tandy's where you are.
Results have been pretty accurate over the years.
I bought a 'Hen' last autumn that had raced in a One Loft Race and everybody was commenting on her 'Hennyness' Guess who's in HIS box with HIS hen on two eggs, :What!:

its so simple its funny you put um together an if it lays egg its hen if not the best way would be to check vent bones hen is flexable cock is not simple

maid08 wrote:its so simple its funny you put um together an if it lays egg its hen if not the best way would be to check vent bones hen is flexable cock is not simple

Do we really want to know where you poke your fingers :Very Funny: :Very Funny: :Very Funny:

yea but i try anything once and makes change from sheep

maid08 wrote:yea but i try anything once and makes change from sheep

:Very Funny: :Very Funny: :Very Funny: :Very Funny: :Very Funny: :ewe de man:

maid08 wrote:its so simple its funny you put um together an if it lays egg its hen if not the best way would be to check vent bones hen is flexable cock is not simple

The question was how do you sex a bird not how do you have sex with a bird :Not a chance:

DOVEScot wrote:

maid08 wrote:its so simple its funny you put um together an if it lays egg its hen if not the best way would be to check vent bones hen is flexable cock is not simple

The question was how do you sex a bird not how do you have sex with a bird :Not a chance:

Ohhh what's in a word.

oh well then i can answer the first one but aint got clue on second???? :reading:

maid08 wrote:oh well then i can answer the first one but aint got clue on second???? :reading:

Has it been that long Chriss :it's :

yep :Very Funny: :Very Funny:

The toe method works, but it is not infallable. I have disproved twice only in 25 years of pigeon racing. Both times it was with hens of the same family. It works, and i use it, but like all things, there are always the exceptions to the rule!

Davey

I have tried all the different methods and came to the conclusion that none are foolproof apart from if it lays an egg then it's a hen and if doesn't lay an egg it can be anything :What!: Thumbs up fingers crossed :flip:

They are breeding well so whatever we decided seems to be working :Yipee:

if it says harder its hen if it says geroff its cock

its really easy pick the yb up and gently shake it, if you hear a rattling noise its a cock!

As strange as the rest :reading:

http://www.pipa.be/artikelsnew/martind/sexen.htm