Can't tell if Silkie Chicks are hens or roosters.

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franstojek

franstojek

In the Brooder
8 Years
Oct 26, 2011
15
0
22
We have 6 silkie chicks that are 6 weeks old now and ALL have spiky feathers sticking up on their heads. We are worries that this is a sign that they may be roosters since ALL our other silkies that are hens had vaulted skulls and rounded heads. Does anyone know about this?? I know it is very hard to sex silkies to begin with but there are a few things that may help such as the spiky hair. Although I thought that because all our other silkies are white and the new baby chicks are partridge and buff maybe that has something to do with it??? Please let me know your thoughts!
 
I think it takes closer to 6 months before you can sex silkies. I'm at 21 weeks and have no hint what mine are.
 
The roos will have longer legs than the hens. I have about six 3-4 mth old babies I have hatched and 3 I believe, are roos. I have been raising silkies about 5 years and my success rate at guessing is about 80%. The hens will be shaped different, their top knot will be shaped rounder, their legs will seem to be more set directly underneath them. The cockrels will begin to develop the spiky feathers at the base of their heads first. The roos body will be a little more upright and the legs look to be positioned more to the back. I also check for the spurs. The roos sometimes will develop them early, but I have several hens who have very small spurs, so that is not a sure indication. Also the cushion of feathers before the tail on the hen will be more pronounced. I also look at the nostrils. I have noticed as babies, the nostrils on the roos are more pronounced. My other roosters will chase the young cockrels but they will not chase the little hens. Hope this helps.
 

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