5 wk old Silkie

[mygirlScout]

I have 2, 5 week old silkies. One of them is a lot bigger and has a comb with red/pink tips, the other has nothing and is smaller. How can I tell if it is a roo? (other than waiting for a crow or egg) It also bumps my husband's hand with it's chest whenever my husband puts his hand in the brooder. Do female silkies get combs like that?

 

[Chirpy]

I was wondering if you got an answer to this question yet?

My experience with silkies is very limited (my first two are just nine weeks old). I do know that it is usually extremely difficult to sex silkies until they either lay an egg or crow (as you mentioned). However, my two sound just like yours. My blue is 1/2 the size of my partridge. The partridge has a much bigger comb and wattles, I can't hardly see them on the blue.

I believe that my bigger one with the large comb is a roo and the blue is a female. This will be my assumption until they "show" me differently. I posted pictures of mine on here and several people did agree with that assessment of mine. You may want to post pictures as that always helps people give opinions.

 

[Love my Critters!]

I would say, from what you are describing, if they are the same age, the bigger one is a roo. When I have babies that are the same age, the roos are usually larger (grow faster) and get red combs and wattles. My hens will have very small wattles and not much of a comb.

 

[mygirlScout]

Thanks for the replies!!

I posted pictures on the "what gender is this" board, and they've all said roo.

 

[BamaChicken]

Here are two 8 week old pullets to look at. If you post a picture I might be able to tell.