Upload 1 to 10 photos of your chicken and the AI looks at the comb, wattles, hackle and saddle feathers, tail, legs and posture to estimate whether you have a hen or a rooster, with a confidence score and the signs it used.

How to tell a hen from a rooster

Sexing young chickens is one of the hardest parts of backyard keeping, and even experienced keepers get surprised by a pullet who starts crowing. The signs get clearer every week, so the age of the bird matters as much as the photo.

• Comb and wattles. Cockerels usually grow a bigger, redder comb and wattles earlier, often by 5 to 8 weeks.
• Hackle and saddle feathers. Roosters grow long, pointed, shiny feathers on the neck and in front of the tail. Hens keep short, rounded ones.
• Tail. Long curved sickle feathers are a rooster sign, usually from about 12 to 16 weeks.
• Legs and stance. Cockerels tend to have thicker legs and stand taller and more upright.
• Behavior. Chest bumping, standing guard and of course crowing, though some roosters do not crow until 4 or 5 months.

Getting the best result

Use clear daylight photos. A side profile of the whole bird, a close up of the head and comb, and a shot of the tail and back give the AI the most to work with. Photos from 8 weeks old and up are far more reliable than chick photos. Sex link chicks are the exception, since their color at hatch already tells you, and some breeds like Silkies are hard to sex by eye at any age.

Got your answer? Give your new hen a name with Name My Chicken, or if you have a rooster, read up on your local chicken laws first, since many towns limit or ban roosters.