When do chickens start showing if they are males or females?

Chickens are hatched as chicks and their sex cannot be definitively determined until they are several months old. Some chicken breeds can show earlier signs, such as differences in feather color or comb size, but these signs are not always accurate and can vary depending on the breed and individual chicken.

Generally, the most reliable way to determine the sex of a chicken is to wait until it is at least 16 weeks old and look for the presence or absence of certain secondary sexual characteristics. In many chicken breeds, males (roosters) will develop larger combs and wattles (the fleshy bits under the beak), longer tail feathers, and more pointed hackle feathers (feathers on the back of the neck) compared to females (hens). Roosters will also typically crow, which is a loud call they make to attract hens and establish their territory. Additionally, roosters may exhibit more aggressive behaviors, such as chasing or mounting other chickens.

It is important to note that these secondary sexual characteristics may vary between breeds and may not always be obvious in young or mixed-breed chickens. Experienced poultry keepers or experts in chicken breeds can often determine the sex of a chicken more accurately based on physical characteristics, behavior, and breed-specific traits.