Autosexing

/ɔːtəˈsɛksɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The ability to determine the sex of an animal, especially poultry chicks, based on observable inherited characteristics visible at birth.

Etymology

From 'auto-' (self) and 'sexing' (determining biological sex). Agricultural and breeding term developed in 20th-century poultry science.

Kelly Says

Chicken breeders developed autosexing breeds where male and female chicks are visibly different at hatching—different colors, markings, or feather patterns. It saves farmers the labor of sorting thousands of chicks by feel or vent inspection.

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