Essay No. 15 (July 2003 ):
Questions and Answers
And some quotes from correspondence
from around the World.
By R. D. Martin
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Newly hatched chickens. What the first twenty years of Bob
Martin's working life was about. 'Once a chick sexer, always
a chick sexer!'
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As a partner in ‘Bernal Publishing and Consultancy’ and
author of ‘The Specialist Chick Sexer’ Book, I get to
know, and hear from, many chick sexers and poultry fanciers both
in Australia and around the World. The chick-sexing Book has sold
in 34 countries and has been used as a reference text at several
universities and colleges, as well as a reference in an article
in the World’s Poultry Science Journal, March 2003.
As the author I am delighted that my ‘labour of love’
has been so well received around the World and in academic circles
also. Results far beyond my original expectations when I first wrote
an article on chick sexing for an ‘Inflight Magazine’
that ‘hatched’ the idea to write a book on the history
of commercial chick sexing. The project grew into a 300-page book
covering the early development in Japan, America, Australia and
Europe. And some observations on the current world situation, with
some hints, illustrations, comments of several commercial chick
sexers, some of whom have been practicing the skill for 50 plus
years. The book covers vent and ‘machine’ sexing of day
old chickens, ducks and emus.
As a couple of Universities have pointed out chick sexing is a
tacit learning skill and while I never thought of it that way when
I was a commercial chick sexer and teacher of chick sexing, they
are right.
Because of this Book, which is about people and their achievements,
as much as it is about chick sexing, and how to achieve greater
accuracy and speed. I have been on television on four occasions,
radio interviews in Australia and on two occasions on American radio:
the later in the early hours of the morning one at 2 a.m. and the
other at about 5 a.m. But the thing that has given me the greatest
pleasure, has been the many men and women I have got to know both
in Australia and throughout the World. Some by meeting them in person,
others through their emails, letters and sometimes through phone
conversations. All have been generous in their comments of my Book;
with remarks such as:
‘ I am really enjoy reading it, I can relate so much in it,
to myself, how I look upon the job. I think it even gave me more
ambition and drive.’
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‘First of all I had a lot of trouble getting your book and
tried to order it in two different countries before eventually getting
it through the Internet directly from Bernal Publishing. I would
like to say congratulations, such a book was long over due.’
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From a Korean chick sexer who I gave some chick sexing hints to.
The kind chick sexer finished the ‘Thank you’ letter with:
‘ I am happy because of you.’
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`I have been using the chick sexing analogy for years
without having any back-up data. So, I was pleased when I finally
did a google search for chicken sexing and turned up your book.
Unfortunately it is not available to me through either Amazon or
Barnes & Noble, at this time. However I was able to read the
excellent review by the University of Melbourne on the Amazon site.
Hopefully, someday we might meet in person and I can get the fascinating
story first hand. (Note: He now has a copy of our Book)
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Amongst the chick sexers I have got to know by emails or letters
are an English lady chick sexers in her 67th year who stills sexes
4000 chickens a week commercially. While not the ‘great age’
of a lady in Japan, or yours truly, Bob Martin, both still sexing
chickens in our mid-seventies, the English lady’s commercial
chick sexing performance is quiet an achievement. I had planned
to put a photo of her in action, but was unable to get her permission
in time to meet the deadline for this essay.
I have visited the Zen Nippon Chick Sexing Association office in
Tokyo and their School in Nagoya and met some of the original experts
from the 1930’s. I still keep in touch with the President,
Mr. Hitoshi Miyata (a 100% percenter) and the Secretary, Mr. Takamitsu
Hashimoto, of the Association in Tokyo.
Just recently I got to know another South Korean chick sexer who
is about to go overseas to sex chickens.
While I have not owned a poultry farm now for over thirty years…I
have to admit I am still a ‘chook’ man at heart, anyone
visiting my office could soon see that. This is the only reason
I am still sexing chickens in my seventies.
Following are just a few of the many queries I have received on
our email. You will note that I have marked the answers; ‘MY
A:' I have done this because some of you may not agree
with the answers I have given at times; I was a commercial chick
sexer and a poultry breeder of commercial strain poultry only, and
my knowledge the fancy breeds is very limited. I stand to be corrected
with some of my answers perhaps.
Q: How can you tell the difference between a male and a female
Polish chick? I cannot have a male where I live. (Neighbours) K.
My A: I do not know of any way to distinguish the sex of Polish
chicks. You could try waiting till a red comb starts to show on
the cockerel chick or another way that sometimes works observe them
feeding…then make a sudden loud noise they are not familiar
with hearing. E.g. clapping your hands…quite often the cockerel
will make an aggressive stance…the pullet will tend to hide
or crouch down. You may be lucky they may both be pullets chicks
Good luck BM.
Or another answer to a similar query…
My A: You do not state what age the chicks are: the following reply
to a similar enquiry on the same breed may help, however the second
enquirer’s chickens were 2 weeks old: By observing your 2 week
old brown chicks over the next two weeks (4 weeks) you should have
no difficulty distinguishing the pullets from the cockerels.
The pullets will grow their tails straight and usually sooner than
the cockerels.
Cockerels (some) will start to have a bit of comb.
Pullets usually feather sooner…but by observing them and trusting
your intuition you should have no trouble telling the sexes. Good
Luck B.M.
Q: I have some 2-week-old brown chicks. How could I sex them? Thanks,
N.
MY A: ‘see above’
Q: Hello…my little girl has a science project in school, which
is to hatch some chicken eggs…our problem is where to find
some fertile eggs in Detroit, Michigan area. Or any other area.
We were hoping you could give us a address or email address or a
telephone number. We would sure appreciate this. Thank you in advance
L.
MY A: www nationpoultrynews.com or frizzlebird@yahoo.com
Q: Do you have a book on ‘artificial insemination’ of
poultry? Please let me know, thanks CB.
MY A: No we do not have a book on A.I. of poultry…sorry. However
we have an article on the subject that may help. I will make a photocopy
of it and include it with your chick-sexing Book, which you should
have in 7 to 10 days in the USA. Thank you for your enquiry. BM
Q: How long can I store eggs for hatching? How should I store them?
MY A: Eggs will sometimes hatch okay up to a month old…even
longer. However hatching time for older eggs takes longer even up
to a day later. This can sometimes cause a problem if the eggs are
under a hen, as she will walk off with the early hatched chicks
and leave the late unhatched eggs get cold. Remedy is to take the
early-hatched chicks inside by a heater until all the eggs are hatched
under the hen.
The best way to store eggs for hatching is with the small end down
and in normal room temperatures. B.M.
Q: Please send me details of how to order this book by normal bank
cheque (UK). Many thanks. PN.
MY. A: To order the book with a bank cheque through mail –
you will need a bank cheque for $40 Australian to cover the Book,
charges, and postage by airmail. If you can pay by credit card our
‘Pay Pal’ on our website is a safe payment system and
is cheaper than a bank cheque. Once we receive your payment the
book takes from 8 to 12 days to the U.K.
Q: Hi…I have a question, is there any device or new item that
helps in distinguishing the sex of the chicken or pigeons as soon
as they are hatched, instead of waiting for a long time.
MY: A Yes there is an optical instrument that you could teach yourself
to sex day old chickens or week-old pigeons. It is called a Chick
sexing ‘Machine’. I am sure there are plenty of these
‘machines’ lying around the World collecting dust as they
are no longer used by commercial chick sexers, or only very few.
The only manufacturer of these ‘machines’ now is in South
Africa.
Our Book that you can purchase for US$22 airmailed shows you how
you can teach yourself to use these ‘machine’.
Q: Hi…do you know anything about a piece of metal that is
attached to a string. You hold it over a bird and if it swings straight
back and forth it is a male and if it goes around in circles it
is a female? It’s very interesting!
MY A: I cannot believe that there is anyone around who would even
consider this old tail has any validity. I do mention about this
in my book, plus some other magic sexing determining gadgets of
the past.
This particular answer had a follow up: I didn’t believe it
either, but I’ve tried it on my pigeons and it was a 100% accurate,
I even tried it on the palm of my hand and it said I was a male.
Then I tried it on my wife, and it was right every time.
My response on this occasion:
When you used it on your pigeons you already knew their sex before
you began – likewise with yourself and your good wife. Do not
underestimate the power of your own mind – but the string and
the metal is just that.
Try using it on birds before you now what sex they are! Remember
you have a 50% chance before you start – plus a mathematical
probability of another 25% giving you a 75% success rate. No dear
Roger M. while it will give you a lot of fun eventually you will
see that it has no commercial use. Try it out at the next party
you go to. Good Luck BM.
Q: Dear Sir I am a veterinarian I would like to learn to sex day-old
turkeys poults. Can I find that topic in the book ‘The Specialist
Chick Sexer’ or can you advice me any other book or school.
I can go anywhere to learn to sex turkey poults it is important
to me. Etc. Thank you best regards. IK
My full email response was: While my book covers the method of
holding the chicken/turkey and how to open the vent ... with turkeys
it doe's not (unfortunately) show the more update method of sexing
poults by examining the lateral folds in the vent .... formerly
poults were sexed the same way as day old chickens by looking at
the processes between the lateral folds. But my former colleagues
inform me that turkeys are now sexed by just looking at the lateral
folds only in the vent. As I only sex a few chickens now mainly
for small growers or at the Government Quarantine Station here in
Melbourne and have not sexed any turkeys for 30 years I can not
tell you what to look for in the lateral folds for turkeys.
You could perhaps contact the following people; they may be able
to help you:
Mr. John K. Park. Amehick 220 South Line St, P.O. Box 905 Lansdale,
PA 19446 USA Fax: 2151362 0981
or the Zen-Nippon Chick Sexing Association No 2 I-Chome, Kanda-Surugadai
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo Japan. Email: zesa@group.lin.go.jp
Or nearer to you:
Hobo Chick Sexing h.v.h.a. ph 27 Wortegemseweg 51 B 8790 Waregem
Belgium. Fax. 85 856
It may help to get a quicker reply if you say I gave you the address.
My former turkey sexer friend in the UK has died, but there are
plenty of turkey sexers that could help you ... if you have any
problems obtaining the information let me know ... hopefully next
time I will answer your enquiry more promptly. I do not know of
any book on sexing turkeys or even chickens, maybe the Japanese
have one now, but did not have one when I was there in 1994.
Good luck and hope I have been of some small help. Yours sincerely
Bob Martin.
Bernal Publishing
These questions and answers cover only a small percentage of the
number we receive, but the samples here would generally cover the
area that most people wanting to sex their own chickens would want
to know. While we are not always able to answer emails or letters
promptly, we do our best. Chick sexing and poultry are mainly my
hobby and interest and are not a payable part of the Bernal Publishing
and Consultancy business.
Not everybody is pleased with the results they get from trying
to learn to sex their own chickens from the Book. But most are,
as I point out, both in the Book and on our webpage, commercial
chick sexing is not something you learn from a book. But for those
who are familiar with handling chickens, by reading the book and
practicing on older birds first and then working back to day old,
many have been able to sex their own small batches of chickens with
up to about 90% accuracy. For the commercial chick sexer by reading
what other chick sexers have to say in the book, they may be able
to increase their own accuracy and speed further. There is much
information in the book on chick sexing as well as other ‘words
of wisdom’…Bernal Publishing are proud of their successful
publication and so an I.
This is my last Essay in this series. However should you have any
questions on chick sexing or helpful comments I would be happy to
respond by email whenever I am able.
Good Luck Bob Martin.
Bernal Publishing
Melbourne, Australia
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