Silkies with 5 toes

Date sort Score sort
angnic22

angnic22

Chirping
Mar 24, 2016
206
14
96
Hi all! Just had to stop by tractor supply and they had a few silkies half off. Of course I bought some. As Travis Triut says, my resistance ain't that strong. Lol

Im new to this breed. Can anyone tell me about them? What to look for so far as gender?

Thanks so much!
400
 
It will be a while until you can sex them. Roosters will develop streamers to the topknot, and develop comb and wattles earlier.
 
What's the top knot?

By the way, my son just returned home from the army after an 8 year enlistment. He asked to raise these. I see the addiction starting and I'm so proud :)
 
The topknot is the poof of feathers on the heads. Hens will have a more rounded one, roosters will have feathers that stream past the back of the skull. With silkies it takes longer to notice differences between the sexes, so be prepared for a wait, some up to 6 months.

Chickens are a nice calming hobby, I find watching them be chickens, makes the world go away for a while. Your son choose a nice hobby.
 
Thank you go the explanation. And I totally agree. I love just watching my flock and I see it in him too. Thanks again!
 
Silkies are wonderful little birds, but they are terribly difficult to sex. Congrats on your little chicks! Here are a couple of my favorite grow outs from this years hatches, to give you an idea of how difficult they can be to tell apart!

Pullet.

Cockerel.
 
howfunkyisurchicken said:
Silkies are wonderful little birds, but they are terribly difficult to sex. Congrats on your little chicks! Here are a couple of my favorite grow outs from this years hatches, to give you an idea of how difficult they can be to tell apart! Pullet. Cockerel.
Click to expand...
I notice that the cockerel's comb is more pronounced through the top knot than that of the hen...
 
ChickenLover200 said:
I notice that the cockerel's comb is more pronounced through the top knot than that of the hen...
Click to expand...

Yep, usually. Those two were hatched January 1st, and I could just recently start telling them apart (I still have a few I'm unsure about). I also notice that my boys usually outgrow the girls rather quickly, but I've had big girls too. Some males are really obvious, others not so much.
 

Similar threads

S
6 weeks today! Breed & gender?
Replies
4
Views
761
spacecore63
S
M
Silkie mix with no crest
Replies
1
Views
414
fluffycrow
fluffycrow
L
Breeds?
Replies
9
Views
469
Purelychicks
Purelychicks
D
Guess the the gender of my Silkies.
Replies
4
Views
551
my spoiled chickens
my spoiled chickens
NightFury06
Gender conformation please!
Replies
8
Views
955
Brahmas Beauty Homestead
Brahmas Beauty Homestead

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom