Parent Stock
- Introduction Parent Stock
- Brooding and Rearing
- Beak Treatment
- Feed Management and Body Weight Targets
- Health Management
- Lighting Programs
- Hatching Egg Management
- Hatchery Tips
- Feather & Color Sexing Guide
Layers
- House preparation and arrival of chicks
- Brooding (1-21 days)
- Growing (3-9 weeks)
- Rearing period (9-15 weeks)
- Transfer (15 -18 Weeks)
- Onset of production (18-25 weeks)
- Production period (25 – 100 Weeks)
- Late production (Up to> 75 weeks)
- Nutrition
- House environment
- Bird assessment
- Health & Biosecurity
- Egg quality
- Performance goals
Hatchery
- Introduction Hatchery Guide
  - Why should you study this management guide?
- Hatching Egg Handling
- Setter
- Candling and Transfer
- Hatcher
- Chick Processing
- Hygiene
- Trouble Shooting
  - Breakout analysis

Feather & Color Sexing Guide

Contents

Feather Sexing Guide
Color Sexing Guide
Males
Females
Performance per Hen Day
- White Egg
- Brown Nick

Feather Sexing Guide

Sexing is done by examining the rows of primary and covert feathersThe feather condition is considered a way to measure the welfare of the hens. on the outspread wing as illustrated. The wing should be viewed from the top and good lighting is required for those performing this task. The length of the primaries as compared to the coverts is more important than the total length of the feathersThe feather condition is considered a way to measure the welfare of the hens. when determining the sex of the chick. Provided correct mating, chicks from feathersex parent stock can easily be sexed by inspection of their wing feathersThe feather condition is considered a way to measure the welfare of the hens.

Males

Males are slow . In cockerel chicks, primaries (2nd row of ) are shorter than or of the same length as coverts (1st row of ).

Females

Females are fast . In the pullet chick, primaries (2nd row of fea- thers) are always longer than coverts (1st row of ). Primaries are longer than coverts.

How to Hold Chicks

The wing should be examined from the top surface, holding the chick, feet down, with the head toward the operator. Fan the wing between thumb and index finger to ease differentiation of feather rows.

Color Sexing Guide

To improve accuracy of color sexing, please observe the following points:

Do not try to sex chicks that have not completely dried. Chicks that have been allowed to dry and fluff out will be easier to color sex.
Be sure to use plenty of bright lightThe light is crucial for achieving the egg size that market requieres. “Cool white” fluorescent lightThe light is crucial for achieving the egg size that market requieres will be too dim. Use of a 200 watt incandescent bulb is recommended.