Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject: Mutations making sexing difficult?
I'm struggling to sex my four chicks.
I THINK I have 3 males and a female, but this is going off head/body size only.
The problem is- the stripe under the wing.
One chick has a broken double stripe, one has one broken stripe, and 2 have no stripe at all.
These chicks are not all from the same parents.
Are mutations making sexing more difficult?
Is anyone else having similar problems? _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
It isn't possible to judge chicks by the underwing stripe. Those have the same thickness as adult females. Only when they moult for the first time you can distinguish the males by the thinner stripe.
It is also true that mutations can hide the stripe. For example pieds and Lutino's.
Another trick to sexe the birds in an early stage is to measure the length of the upper beak. For males it is above 1,5cm, females below.
It isn't possible to judge chicks by the underwing stripe. Those have the same thickness as adult females. Only when they moult for the first time you can distinguish the males by the thinner stripe.
We had a descussion on the strip a few yrs back, and I meanted somewthing about being un reliable....
I think this was because I was looking at some birds pre moult at the time.
Post moult I have found very reliable....
Pre moult it can ionly be used as an unreliable indicator.
Quote:
I THINK I have 3 males and a female, but this is going off head/body size only.
Even this can only be used as indicator on chicks....once they have a good cover of adult feathers it becomes more obvious.....but going on head body, it is not uncommon for us to produce very large females and smaller males...
Any sexing we do in the nest...we onlt take as an indicator, once out very rare wrong, once weaned, only been wrong once with a very large female. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Thats great info, thanks!
2 chicks are 4 months now, the others are 2 months. Shall take a good look at beak length, might be easier- as one from each clutch is pied.
:)
Much appreciated! _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
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