BABY CHICK: VENT SEXING by Professionals Only
There are various traditional sexing methods to assist to identify male/ female chickens. Different methods are used based on breed, age, and comb types. Traditional sexing methods vary in percent of accuracy. While vent sexing is mostly accurate, it is often uncertain until crow or egg laying. Traditional sexing methods keep families searching for clues in the sexing mystery until crow or egg gifting. Investing in DNA sexing is the only truly accurate method.
Breeds that use this sexing method: Standard sized breed chickens.
Vent sexing should only be attempted by professional sexers. There is a risk of prolapsing the chicks vent resulting in death if done incorrectly. Vent sexing only works on days old chicks. After that, the chick's lower digestive tract will distend from eating and growing which blocks the sex organ from view.
Venting involves squeezing the feces out of the day old chick, which opens up the chick's anal vent (called a cloaca). The professional sexer looks at genitalia eminence to classify the chick as a male or female. Male genitalia eminence is more elastic, boundary contour, lustered, and genitalia eminence is revealed as bump. Females can have smaller bumps which contribute to 10%- 15% inaccuracy in the vent sexing method.
Bantam breeds are too small to vent sex. Vent sexing is not available for bantam breeds such as Silkies which are usually sold only as straight runs. Which is why our offering of female sexing coverage or DNA sexing for Silkies is so unique.