Difference Between a Baby Hen & a Baby Rooster

Determining the sex of chicks can be very difficult, especially when they are just days old. Differences between male and female chicks are minimally visible, and sexing can be unsuccessful if attempted before chicks have had the chance to grow for a few weeks after hatching. However, there are a few distinctions that can make it easier to tell a future hen from a future rooster. Some of these distinctions can be made from the day of hatching, and others require waiting a few weeks.

  1. Sex Organs

    • Though the sex organs of male and female chicks have obvious differences, these are extremely difficult to visualize until the chicks have grown from hatchling size. Vent sexing makes it possible to see a chick's sex organs, but many potential problems are associated with the process. Thus, it should only be undertaken by an experienced chicken sexer. Vent sexing requires applying a squeezing hold to the chick to clear its digestive tract and expose its anal opening. Once this is cleared, the chicken sexer can visualize a tiny raised lump inside the anus of male chicks. In contrast, female chicks have no lump.

    Color Differences

    • Purebred chicks will not show any color differences upon hatching. However, if your chicks are strategically cross-bred, you will be able to tell the difference between males and females as soon as they have hatched. One of the most common cross-breeds is the black star, which is the offspring of a barred rock hen and a Rhode Island red rooster. Female black stars are entirely black, whereas male black stars are born with a small white marking in addition to generally black feathering.

    Developing Physical Features

    • The most obvious differences between young male and female chickens appear during the transition out of the chick stage. Usually, these points of divergence become clear after the first month of the chick's life. During the second and third months, roosters' combs will continue to grow after hen's combs have ceased to develop further. Young roosters' bodies grow large very quickly in general, whereas young hens' bodies stay small. Males and females will also develop feather colors and shapes in accordance with gender and breed.

    Voice Changes

    • Voice changes do not manifest in young chickens until a few weeks after hatching. However, this development sometimes gives a clue to the sex of a chick sooner than the growth of physical features will. At first, all chicks will emit the same high-pitched peeping sounds. In time, a male chick's peep will begin to sound similar to a crow and a female chick's peep will begin to sound similar to a cluck.