16-18 week old Silkie - Is 'he' a 'she'?

At my own risk, I picked up a Silkie last month from someone that thought it was a pullet but wasn't 100% sure. Well, over the last week I started suspect that Margaret was a boy, and then a couple nights ago he had a brief fight with an Easter-egger cockerel I had introduced to him to keep him company. So he's a he for sure, right?

But on another thread that I have been posting about him on, a couple of people have said that they still think 'Marka' is a 'Margaret'. I've been observing 'him' closely over the past couple days and, well, at this point I just don't know. I mean, I think I know, but I don't know. I wouldn't mind if Marka was a boy as I suspect he is, but I would be happier to find that he's still a Margaret!

So I thought I would start a tally here and see what everyone thinks. The person I got her from was not sure of 'his' age but gave me a general range. 'He' should be 16-18 weeks old right now. So should I be calling this bird Marka or Margaret?









In this picture, you can see 'his' overall coloration:



As far as behavior, besides the fight he had with the other cockerel, 'he' has been behaving pretty girly. 'He' ran to my Cochin cockerel that was chirping with a treat, and then the Cochin wing-danced at 'him'. On a number of occasions, the EE cockerel has tried to grab 'him' through the bars like that EE does with the other pullets. This Silkie also let a group of about 14 week old pullets beat up on 'him' and keep him from eating.

Thoughts?

I'm going to say rooster, due to the small crest and rather large wattles and comb. However, I'm not 100% sure on this answer, as Silkies are extremely difficult to sex.

Yeah, that's where I'm at, too! This is my first Silkie, though, so I really have no clue.

id say roo....bright blue ears and backwards pointing "hair"

naightengale said:

id say roo....bright blue ears and backwards pointing "hair"

Click to expand...

Silkies should have blue ear lobes, both males and females. I do agree that it is a boy though. The comb has a slight reddish tint.

Okay, thanks. That is what I was thinking, too. So I have myself a Marka! He will be sharing 38 hens with the little Cochin boy mentioned in my first post, then, as long as he's a good boy. (The EE cockerel is out, too aggressive and violently human shy. :/ )

Looks like a pullet to me.

Honestly, if I'd have togive an answer, I would still say pullet. The way you describes his/her behavior just sounds like a pullets.

And, y'know what? I had a silkie pullet that I could have SWORN was a cockerel, looked just like yours, and then she laid her first egg. So, honestly, if you don't mind having a rooster, then you don't have to worry about the gender. Just let the answer be a surprise for you. (But if you're like me, and absolutely have to know, then I understand!)

I have a silkie hen that had the same overall features of it's head when it was the age of your bird here. Small crest, small wattles. I'm leaning more towards pullet with this one, but then again it might turn out to be a slowly maturing roo. Please let us know they outcome!

Oh man, Silkies are hard, huh! Well, I guess Marka/Margaret will be a wait and see bird, then. Although it's kind of killing me not knowing. I'll be sure to update here when I know for sure.