4 - 5 Month Bearded SILKIES!! Roos or Hens??

[HappyDuckie]

The black one is most likely a cockerel. The tan one in the fourth pic also looks like it.

 

[Chicalina]

hmmmm these guys are tricky!!

I'd say the white is a cockerel, but the buff and black could end up with streamers soon, not sure on those. The cuckoo is a pullet.

 

[yakitori]

I don't know much about silkie maturation speed, but my older hard feathered girls started getting their big girl voices by 3 months.... are you sure they are 4-5months old? I hear chirping, lol.

 

[cluelesschickmother]

I don't know much about silkie maturation speed, but my older hard feathered girls started getting their big girl voices by 3 months.... are you sure they are 4-5months old? I hear chirping, lol.

Haha I know!! They do kind of chirp?! They are definitely full grown and around 5 months. They are slightly bigger than my 4 month olds and bigger than my small 6 month bantam pullet (pictured in profile picture).

I have been wondering about silkie voices, my expensive pullet from a high end show breeder actually murmurs (again, the one in my profile pic). I have never heard anything like it before! She goes "mur-mur mur-mur mur-mur." I was kind of hoping these would do the same and that it was a trait of true purebred bearded silkies... but not yet at least.

 

[cluelesschickmother]

Honestly, they all look female.
Keep an eye on the dark grey one.
They are all so pretty!

I really hope you're right. I really think the black is a cockerel, which is fine, I can keep them. I just am hoping the white paint is a pullet! I really wanted to add two beautiful pullets to my flock.

 

[cluelesschickmother]

hmmmm these guys are tricky!!

I'd say the white is a cockerel, but the buff and black could end up with streamers soon, not sure on those. The cuckoo is a pullet.

That is a fair assessment and my worst case scenario. I am confident the cuckoo is a pullet and pretty sure the black is a cockerel. I don't care so much about the buff as he/she is unlikely to produce eggs anyways. I am really holding out hope that the white is a pullet! I will happily keep all the roosters, but I just really wanted to add two beautiful pullets to my flock...

 

[Chicalina]

It's so annoying that silkies take so long to mature isn't it!!!

 

[NatJ]

View attachment 2380410

I think I'm seeing a slight crossbeak on the buff--or is it just the angle of the photo? It looks like the tip of the upper beak is to the right (bird's left) of the tip on the lower beak.

 

[cluelesschickmother]

I think I'm seeing a slight crossbeak on the buff--or is it just the angle of the photo? It looks like the tip of the upper beak is to the right (bird's left) of the tip on the lower beak.

Possibly, but I think his whole beak is crooked as opposed to crossed. I’ll have to look closely tomorrow, but I definitely see him eat food, grass and treats all day long. Is there a serious issue I need to look out for?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

That is a fair assessment and my worst case scenario. I am confident the cuckoo is a pullet and pretty sure the black is a cockerel. I don't care so much about the buff as he/she is unlikely to produce eggs anyways. I am really holding out hope that the white is a pullet! I will happily keep all the roosters, but I just really wanted to add two beautiful pullets to my flock...

I'm thinking white cockerel and black cockerel too... Time will tell, gotta have patience with Silkies...
They are gorgeous little fluffballs!