This profession has helped many workers to earn substantial incomes, purchase cars, and secure comfortable living conditions.

At the hatchery of Ngoc Mung Poultry Breeding Joint Stock Company in Lien Ha Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi, dozens of workers sit side by side at long tables, sorting through newly hatched chicks with soft, golden down. The constant chirping of chicks blends with the humming of incubation machines, creating a distinctive atmosphere of precision and focus.

Under bright table lamps, workers swiftly pick up each chick, gently examine its vent, and apply their expert knowledge to determine its gender. Their hands move with remarkable dexterity, lightly pressing the chick’s abdomen to clear any residual waste and reveal its reproductive characteristics.

In front of each worker are two separate containers: one for female chicks and the other for males. With a quick flick of the wrist, each chick is accurately placed in its designated box. The process continues seamlessly, with experienced workers sorting thousands of chicks per shift, while newcomers must concentrate intensely to avoid errors.

"The longer you do this job, the more skilled you become. I’ve been doing this for over ten years. Not everyone can master it which requires a combination of ability and innate talent. Very few people can do it," said Tran Manh Linh, a worker at Ngoc Mung Company.

Chicken sexing is an essential process for poultry hatcheries, as accurate gender identification is crucial for breeding and production. The task goes beyond simple observation as it demands experience and skill, as newly hatched chicks appear nearly identical.

In the past, workers relied on feather characteristics to differentiate between male and female chicks. However, this method had a high margin of error and was only effective for genetically modified breeds with distinct feather growth patterns. Today, vent sexing is considered the most accurate method. Male chicks have a tiny bump inside their vent, while females do not. However, precision is critical, as improper handling can affect the chicks' health. As a result, chicken sexers typically earn higher wages than other hatchery workers.

Nguyen Thi Dung, a resident of Lien Ha Commune, has been working in this field for about six years. Due to the seasonal nature of the job, she provides her services to multiple hatcheries, earning up to VND 60 million (approximately US$2,400) per month. "It’s just a regular worker’s job, but everyone here drives their own cars and owns nice homes. The more you work, the more you earn," she shared.

Training a proficient chicken sexer is no easy task. It takes six months to a year to develop the necessary skills, and even then, not everyone is suited for the job. According to Hoang Manh Ngoc, Director of Ngoc Mung Poultry Breeding Joint Stock Company, large hatcheries sort tens of thousands of chicks daily. Even minor mistakes can significantly impact production, making skilled workers highly sought after and well-paid.

"Training in this field is extremely challenging. It requires excellent eyesight and precision, and out of many trainees, only a handful succeed. Since the job is performance-based, workers push themselves to achieve high efficiency and work longer hours. Because of its specialized nature, chicken sexers receive high salaries," Ngoc explained.

Although relatively unknown to the general public, chicken sexing is an indispensable part of the poultry industry. Thanks to the meticulousness, agility, and expertise of these professionals, millions of chicks are accurately classified each year, thus enhancing productivity and profitability for farms across the country.

Vietnam to export chicken meat to Islamic countries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will hold a conference in May to announce the export of chicken meat products to Islamic markets with an estimated volume of around 1,000 tonnes per month, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.