You will know when a chicken is molting when you see feathers in their coop, on the ground, and basically everywhere the chicken hangs out. I have never seen a silkie molt, so I don't know how the bird will look, but my standard breeds look pretty awful while they are molting. Also, a molting...
A dominent hen will behave like a rooster! By now you have probably witnessed the behavior, as I have. I (inadvertently) introduced a rooster into my flock, and that behavior has disappeared.
I have a different question in a similar vein: will a hen immitate a rooster's crows? I have 2...