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Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 16:54
by Pete Sara
vettepilot I never trust the the black or red near the eyes 100%, I have had afew that one side would be male and the other side shows female. like the monomorphics ( big word for me today) I always go on a few methods, if they add up the results will be a nice clutch of babies if not back to the drawing board.
but this time of year should not be a problem to vent sex if they are mature ( old enough to breed) , young ones a bit of a problem , the pied should be mature enough ...pete
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 16:58
by vettepilot_6
poitta wrote:vettepilot I never trust the the black or red near the eyes 100%, I have had afew that one side would be male and the other side shows female. like the monomorphics ( big word for me today) I always go on a few methods, if they add up the results will be a nice clutch of babies if not back to the drawing board.
but this time of year should not be a problem to vent sex if they are mature ( old enough to breed) , young ones a bit of a problem , the pied should be mature enough ...pete
Tend to agree Poitta but I like to see them in the flesh as well because I use their 2 middle tail feathers too...males are slightly more pointed....plus like it has been said before red feathers around vent and this time of year vent checks...hen squeals cock singing etc...
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 17:23
by Greg41
I followed Mackstaa's reasoning and have got 5 in the aviary, one pr have built a nest but still have to work out which two it is. I want to finish up with just the one pair.
Cheers Greg.
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 17:28
by flap
Greg, could you ring each one in a different colour and then see which two go in and out of the nest? of course that still might not tell you who is the male and who is the female...
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 19:57
by Greg41
Done that, they all have a different colour ring, still hard to see who is doing what.
Cheers Greg.
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 14 Dec 2011, 20:00
by flap
Ok, we just managed to vent sex the normal, we think it is a cock bird. They started to get a bit stressed so will wait to sex vent the pied another time. Can't wait to find out...
Greg, shame. I guess being so active doesn't help as they don't sit still for 2 seconds!
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 24 Dec 2011, 15:40
by flap
OK, it looks like what we have are two cock birds. The pied one was trilling visibly just then... So the search continues for a partner... Anyone got a hen or a pair of pieds they want to sell???
Re: Hens or cocks?
Posted: 24 Dec 2011, 16:19
by mackstaa
Doh!
Just sold my nice pied hen. Good luck flap