3.5 month old silkie crowing?

[Mamasimmons]

I have a silkie 3.5 months old named Snow... s/he doesn't look or 'act' like a roo (from how I understand roos normally act?) but yesterday morning right at sunrise I heard one little feeble attempt at a crow... then this morning I heard ~4 more attempts. They're not loud and obnoxious (yet?)... actually kind of cute little sound but just wondering if that's the surefire sign that he's definitely a he? Do female silkies ever attempt to crow? I also have 2 Rhode Island Red hens and they are for sure the leaders out there. Snow tends to follow them around but pretty much just gets ignored. If Snow is a roo, will he likely try to mate with the reds? My goal was to have eggs for my family (I'm new at this and they're not old enough to start laying yet) so just wondering if the laying thing will get all screwed up if we keep Snow. Fwiw, I love that bird... Thanks for your experience/advice!

 

[donrae]

Crowing at 3.5 months is a sure indicator of a rooster. His behavior may not be what you're expecting because one, he's a silkie. They're not normal chickens

and two, he's still just a baby.

Yep, he'll sure try to mate with your big girls when he gets older and more sure of himself. Won't affect their laying one bit, though. Fertile eggs are eaten the world around and you'll never notice the difference. Embryos don't start to develop until the egg's been incubated at 100 degrees for a few days, so as long as you don't have anyone broody and collect the eggs every day or so, you're fine. I've always had roosters in with my layers and never once had a nasty surprise when I cracked an egg.

 

[Mamasimmons]

Awesome. Thanks for the insight! I was hoping this would be the answer! I can't stop thinking of Snow as a girl though- my biggest challenge will be calling him "he".