Gender help?

I don't know if my 4 month old silkie is a pullet or a cockerel... we thought she made a somewhat crowing noise the other day but she hasn't done it since..

I didn't know the gender of mine till i got eggs fromeach of them

Jumping onto this thread. I have a 3.5 week old Cochin here. Was sold sexed, with a 95% accuracy rate. I've noticed that its feet have gotten rather large and has started comb development. I was hoping it was a pullet but the legs and comb have got me second-guessing. Any help?

Also, this was sold as a silver-laced Cochin, but I'm not 100% sure if it's a full silver-laced, or if the colours are going to be mixed with others.







I have a Silkie that I'm unsure of as well, but I know I need to wait a few more weeks before it will be easier to sex by pictures. If anyone can help with my Cochin here it would be greatly appreciated!

That's not a Silver Laced Cochin, but a Silver Penciled Cochin. It's the same coloring as a Dark Brahma.
With that black chest, it's a boy.

@xLittleSilkieX Silkies, I have heard, are really hard to sex because of their unique feather attribute. Could you maybe get a better picture? The one on here is kinda unclear. Maybe closeups of the head could help a bit... I really don't have much experience with Silkies but I will try to help all that I can.

@SnookumsGal I think that your adorable Cochin is too young to tell, at least for me. I think it could go either way. As for the feathering, you don't really know what it will be like until they grow up, I have a week-old Polish who has similar feather patterns. Give 'em a couple of molts and then you can see what their feathers are like. Where did you get it from? Some places only give that 95% guarantee because they want the extra customers. And even truthful places can make the wrong sex on a chick.

In a couple weeks it should be easier to tell with both of those cute little birds!

~chickenchick

junebuggena said:

That's not a Silver Laced Cochin, but a Silver Penciled Cochin. It's the same coloring as a Dark Brahma.
With that black chest, it's a boy.

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Oh the Silver Pencilled colouring makes sense. Still cute.

I think the pictures are a bit misleading, Peridot (its name) actually has a yellow/white chest and the black colouring are feathers that continue onto her wings. Unless that part is still classified as the chest. haha I'm new to this chicken thing.

This is also a picture of Peridot from Feb 17th if that helps any.

chickenchick12 said:

@SnookumsGal I think that your adorable Cochin is too young to tell, at least for me. I think it could go either way. As for the feathering, you don't really know what it will be like until they grow up, I have a week-old Polish who has similar feather patterns. Give 'em a couple of molts and then you can see what their feathers are like. Where did you get it from? Some places only give that 95% guarantee because they want the extra customers. And even truthful places can make the wrong sex on a chick.

In a couple weeks it should be easier to tell with both of those cute little birds!

~chickenchick

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That's alright. I know it's kinda young to tell but I thought I would try my luck with you chicken experts on this website.
I got them from a local hatchery (local being the next city over, 25 minute drive). The guy seemed to know his stuff and he said 95% accuracy when it comes to sexing. This is my first time purchasing chickens so I'm not sure what to look for/expect. I believe it was just him and his wife who owned the little property and business, so it wasn't like a big company with lots of workers.

Ok. I haven't had any experience with small, local hatcheries. I am always using the big ones like Mcmurray and Cackle. It sounds like your chick has a pretty darn good chance of being a pullet, with 95% percent. Good luck with your little sweetie!

~chickenchick

SnookumsGal said:

Oh the Silver Pencilled colouring makes sense. Still cute.

I think the pictures are a bit misleading, Peridot (its name) actually has a yellow/white chest and the black colouring are feathers that continue onto her wings. Unless that part is still classified as the chest. haha I'm new to this chicken thing.

This is also a picture of Peridot from Feb 17th if that helps any.



That's alright. I know it's kinda young to tell but I thought I would try my luck with you chicken experts on this website.
I got them from a local hatchery (local being the next city over, 25 minute drive). The guy seemed to know his stuff and he said 95% accuracy when it comes to sexing. This is my first time purchasing chickens so I'm not sure what to look for/expect. I believe it was just him and his wife who owned the little property and business, so it wasn't like a big company with lots of workers.

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That's the chest starting to feather in. It's a boy. Vent sexing is about 90%, but only if the person doing the sexing is very, very experienced. Mistakes do happen, though. Determining the gender of a tiny, day old chick by gently pressing around the vent is more of an art than a science. Remember, roosters don't have penises, so the differences inside the vent are extremely subtle.

x 2 Junebuggena's posts

junebuggena said:

That's the chest starting to feather in. It's a boy. Vent sexing is about 90%, but only if the person doing the sexing is very, very experienced. Mistakes do happen, though. Determining the gender of a tiny, day old chick by gently pressing around the vent is more of an art than a science. Remember, roosters don't have penises, so the differences inside the vent are extremely subtle.

Click to expand...

drumstick diva said:

x 2 Junebuggena's posts

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D:
My parents are not gonna be happy.
I don't think I can keep a roo around. They're being raised as pets. I was really hoping for a pullet.
I understand mistakes happen and of course there's always that 5-10% error margin... but seeing as the guy I got them from genuinely seemed sure about the sexing and the fact that my Silkie I got along with it is 50/50, it is really disheartening because there's an even larger chance that my Silkie could be a roo, too.
I'm already really attached. They like to chase after walnut treats I give them, and sit on my shoulder to nap.