Sexing your Silkies (PICTURES AND TIPS - Updated July-5-12)

[Faraday40]

She just started laying!

 

[NW Chickadee]

Ok friends! I know it's early but thought I'd give this a whirl! I have 4 - 6wk old, very PQ Silkies. I've really began noticing some behaviors in the last few days - thought I'd share some pics and what I've witnessed and see if anyone wants to throw out a guess!
(I have my own guesses but I'm dying to see what y'all think!)

Chick #1 (kinda stumped, also pushy, one of the first to the food, loves to perch and hang w/#2 - although, they do plenty of chest bumpin')

Chick #2 (Almost postitive a roo. Pushy, first to food, loves to perch, my homely lil' thing! I gotta love him cuz I'm afraid no one else will! )

Chick #3 "Popcorn" (VERY docile, the last one to the food, would much rather nestle in and get comfy than perch) Chicks 3 & 4 are always together.

Chick #4 (very docile, not doesn't care to perch much and is one of the last to the food - excuse its wet crest)

 

[Faraday40]

Ok friends! I know it's early but thought I'd give this a whirl! I have 4 - 6wk old, very PQ Silkies. I've really began noticing some behaviors in the last few days - thought I'd share some pics and what I've witnessed and see if anyone wants to throw out a guess!
(I have my own guesses but I'm dying to see what y'all think!)

Chick #1 (kinda stumped, also pushy, one of the first to the food, loves to perch and hang w/#2 - although, they do plenty of chest bumpin')
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Chick #2 (Almost postitive a roo. Pushy, first to food, loves to perch, my homely lil' thing!)
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Chick #3 "Popcorn" (VERY docile, the last one to the food, would much rather nestle in and get comfy than perch) Chicks 3 & 4 are always together.
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Chick #4 (very docile, not doesn't care to perch much and is one of the last to the food - excuse its wet crest)
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These are guesses but #2 looks like a boy & #3 a girl. The other 2 could go either way.

 

[Faraday40]

View attachment 1127979 Really thinking this one is a roo with that comb. He is half the size than his brother and hasn't crowed yet. 6 months old. His brother did at 4 months and I have no roosters atm.

Well, it's a pretty silkie. At 6 mo, you'll soon be getting an egg or a crow. My silkie's had no comb until recently. (age 6 mo) It popped out a little & then she started laying.

 

[NW Chickadee]

These are guesses but #2 looks like a boy & #3 a girl. The other 2 could go either way.

Thank you for taking the time to take a look! That's exactly my thoughts also. 1 & 4 have me stumped.

 

[Faraday40]

Thank you for taking the time to take a look! That's exactly my thoughts also. 1 & 4 have me stumped.

It's only guesses. I don't have much experience with silkies. My black one had no real comb (like your #3). I was pretty sure she was a female. My splash had a comb region like your #4. It was flat but slightly wider than my black's comb. I really thought that one was male (especially around 4-6 weeks), but now I'm pretty sure she's also a female. (Just no eggs yet)

 

[NW Chickadee]

It's only guesses. I don't have much experience with silkies. My black one had no real comb (like your #3). I was pretty sure she was a female. My splash had a comb region like your #4. It was flat but slightly wider than my black's comb. I really thought that one was male (especially around 4-6 weeks), but now I'm pretty sure she's also a female. (Just no eggs yet)

There such sneaky little turds! And just like everyone else - I'm afraid to get too attached but I know that certainty will have to wait. I still LOVE the guesses though!

 

[shanadienne]

Hey all! I have a five and a half month old giant mystery silkie from TSC.
It's growing spurs which should be a no-brainer (not to mention the size of its comb and wattles for its age), but it just sounds and acts so much like a hen and it's never showed the slightest hint of rooster behavior so I don't know what to think anymore. It definitely looks hen-feathered to me.

 

[Faraday40]

Hey all! I have a five and a half month old giant mystery silkie from TSC.
It's growing spurs which should be a no-brainer (not to mention the size of its comb and wattles for its age), but it just sounds and acts so much like a hen and it's never showed the slightest hint of rooster behavior so I don't know what to think anymore. It definitely looks hen-feathered to me.

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Some thoughts/ideas to explore:
Well that type of single comb is not a silkie trait, so he/she is likely some type of silkie mix. (The tail also supports the idea of a mix) In this case a mix may not be a bad thing. 5 months is when some breeds begin to lay, so you'll likely get an answer soon. If your bird is beginning to stop & squat when you pet it, then you have a female. (It's rare but there have been cases of females with spurs.) I do not see the typical silkie rooster "hair style" but again a mix-silkie may never get that.

Do you have roosters in your flock? If yes, then this bird may never crow - even if a male. If no other roosters around, then a male should be showing & sounding like one by now.

I actually have a 5.5 mo silkie (hatched April 15th). She's not laying yet but the other one from my March 4th hatch already laid about a doz eggs & then went broody. LOL

 

[BrahmaMom1797]

What about this little thing, we thought she looked most like a girl, but though we heard her crow, our other hens imitate our old roosters crow so she could just be imitating them? I'd really like some help cause just like my roo, I love this little bird and don't wanna have to let go of her.