Professionals use a practice called vent sexing, which is one of the most accurate ways to differentiate male chicks from female chicks. Don’t underestimate the value of experience in this field though. Even the experts make mistakes, and you will more certainly gain accuracy with practice!
The process of vent sexing includes the following steps:
- Normally occurs between 12 and 36 hours of age
- Scrub your hands and nails clean
- Hold chick in left hand on its back with its bottom away from you
- Use the thumb on your left hand to apply slight pressure below the vent
- With your right hand, use thumb and finger to gently roll the vent open
- If you run into excrement, clean and re-open vent
- Look for a small bump in the center of the vent, at the top of the exposed rim, directly under the tailbone
- Ensure that what you found is a raised bump – not just a different color
- If there is a bump, chances are good that you have identified a cockerel
- If there is not a bump, chance are good that you have identified a pullet
- Return your chick to the brooder
- Scrub your hands and nails clean
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