silkie sexing

[Statz47]

Hi! I have 2 silkies, almost 4 months old. We've had them since about day 3.
Silkie A is slightly bigger and a darker shade than the other, it has a single comb. (Silkie A began crowing yesterday early morning about 6 times, but didn't crow this morning.)
Silkie B has always been smaller but has a different comb. She/he is a lot more docile.
Can someone tell if they are hens? (The town we live in does not allow roosters.)
My husband, two boys and I are hoping for two hens (We also have 2 buff orpingtons and 2 plymouth barred rocks, hoping those are hens too!)
Thanks in advanced!


Silkie A & B





Silkie A





Silkie B

 

[aaggjg]

I am no expert but they look like boys to me ..... sorry

Boys have the swept back poufs and larger combs ...... I just posted pictures of some of my 3 month olds in a diff thread and for reference I'll post a picture of one voted a girl and one voted a boy....

This is the boy ... Notice the swept back hairdo, the large comb and the red wattles coming in ........



Now for a hen ........ Notice her bigger rounder fluffier pouf.... smaller comb not that you can see it under that pouf and no wattles.....



Also you silkie A doesn't have the typical Walnut comb of a Silkie so maybe its a cross???

Good luck rehoming your boys..... Sorry

 

[hdowden]

Hi! I have 2 silkies, almost 4 months old. We've had them since about day 3.
Silkie A is slightly bigger and a darker shade than the other, it has a single comb. (Silkie A began crowing yesterday early morning about 6 times, but didn't crow this morning.)
Silkie B has always been smaller but has a different comb. She/he is a lot more docile.
Can someone tell if they are hens? (The town we live in does not allow roosters.)
My husband, two boys and I are hoping for two hens (We also have 2 buff orpingtons and 2 plymouth barred rocks, hoping those are hens too!)
Thanks in advanced!


Silkie A & B





Silkie A





Silkie B

both of these are cockerels

 

[hdowden]

Also you silkie A doesn't have the typical Walnut comb of a Silkie so maybe its a cross???

its not a cross it happens even in the best silkie lines even more so on hatchery birds

 

[aaggjg]

its not a cross it happens even in the best silkie lines even more so on hatchery birds

Oh really interesting ... SO its a recessive gene????

 

[hdowden]

from what i understand of it yes it is but it might be better to ask that in the genetics forum to be sure

 

[aaggjg]

from what i understand of it yes it is but it might be better to ask that in the genetics forum to be sure

Thanks I had no idea... I learn so much here everyday!!! BYC is an amazing resource!!!

 

[TheChicknGarden]

Yeah they both look like boys to me too.

 

[Statz47]

Thanks for all the opinions so far... I'm so sadden with the thought that our silkies may be roosters. These are my favorite from our flock. I guess, we will have to keep trying for keeper!
A question: If I get a silkie chick(s) will they do good with our current flock. We have 6 in total now, all about 4 months. Would I have to keep the baby chick(s) inside with heat lamp like we did for the others, or can our 4 month chickens do the work. I guess Im thinking ahead of myself!

Thanks!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Yes, it is a recessive gene, fortunately. Silkies breeders will sometimes use other breeds (such as cochins) to get the lovely colors and different feathering we like in our silkies, frilkies, sizzles and frizzles-LOL! I recently hatched a dozen silkies from Show Quality BBS pens and I got 3 silkies with a single comb.

(I'll attach a picture of one of them). The breeder was shocked that I got 3, but had warned me that one of the hens was a frizzle/silkie cross. I was willing to get a frizzle, but I didn't realize until they were 3 months old that they had single combs....This only makes it more difficult to sex!

Anyway, I might keep one of them to breed (if all else is perfect) and put them with a mate that has a perfect pea comb.
This is Powder Puff whose single comb is hard to see beneath the huge crest....Not sure if it is a girl or boy yet, of course.

Three months old

its not a cross it happens even in the best silkie lines even more so on hatchery birds

Oh really interesting ... SO its a recessive gene????

from what i understand of it yes it is but it might be better to ask that in the genetics forum to be sure

The temp was about 104* so the chickens were really hot. Powder Puff is panting and letting her/his wings droop in the heat



Here is a closeup of PowderPuffs face and comb