6 month Silkie pullet please confirm?

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Please see pics. 6 months old Silkie. I thought pullet but she has large wattles compared to her sisters.
Thanks!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

...although most sure her brother is a cockerel! And she doesn't look like him but does do spin around jumping behaviour like practice fighting type things and also does peck me when I pick her (/him) up. See pic of brother..

 

[black_cat]

Brother is 400% cockerel. I don't know-her comb and wattles are a bit large for a pullet, but her crest looks female-when do silkies start laying?

 

[black_cat]

@LynnaePB

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Brother is 400% cockerel. I don't know-her comb and wattles are a bit large for a pullet, but her crest looks female-when do silkies start laying?

I have a pullet that started laying at 6 months but another is near 10 months and still no eggs I guess it varies chicken to chicken

 

[black_cat]

I have a pullet that started laying at 6 months but another is near 10 months and still no eggs I guess it varies chicken to chicken

Huh. I'm assuming that you're getting crowing from the brother, so you wouldn't be able to tell with that. @SoftSilkie ?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Huh. I'm assuming that you're getting crowing from the brother, so you wouldn't be able to tell with that. @SoftSilkie ?

Yep crowing from Cookie (brother) but no egg or crow from Boof

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I don’t know that comb and those wattles look pretty big to me! I agree crest and rest of the chicken look female but I’m leaning towards male with the first one! The second one is definitely a cockerel!

 

[LynnaePB]

Hmm she does have quite the wattles and comb for a girl but looking pretty pullet like otherwise. I don't have any non bearded so can't comment on the wattles but I do have some girls that get bigger combs. I can see why she is confusing you. If she happens to be getting close to laying feeling for her pubic bones might help determine gender. If she is still pretty far from laying it won't tell you anything but if she is close and they've started widening you can be pretty confident she is a girl. With the comb and wattle that large I would think maybe she is getting close if she's a girl.

The pubic bones are under the vent. Males and young females have the pubic bones very close together. As females get older and prepare for laying the pubic bones start spreading apart. I usually can't fit more than a finger width between the pubic bones in young pullets and cockerels/cocks. If you can fit two finger widths between the pubic bones you've likely got a girl close to laying. They feel quite pokey, usually pretty easy to feel.

Of course there are breeders who've been breeding for years that get fooled so maybe she is actually a very feminine looking he.

I honestly don't know what to think about her. She/he is beautiful though!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Hmm she does have quite the wattles and comb for a girl but looking pretty pullet like otherwise. I don't have any non bearded so can't comment on the wattles but I do have some girls that get bigger combs. I can see why she is confusing you. If she happens to be getting close to laying feeling for her pubic bones might help determine gender. If she is still pretty far from laying it won't tell you anything but if she is close and they've started widening you can be pretty confident she is a girl. With the comb and wattle that large I would think maybe she is getting close if she's a girl.

The pubic bones are under the vent. Males and young females have the pubic bones very close together. As females get older and prepare for laying the pubic bones start spreading apart. I usually can't fit more than a finger width between the pubic bones in young pullets and cockerels/cocks. If you can fit two finger widths between the pubic bones you've likely got a girl close to laying. They feel quite pokey, usually pretty easy to feel.

Of course there are breeders who've been breeding for years that get fooled so maybe she is actually a very feminine looking he.

I honestly don't know what to think about her. She/he is beautiful though!

That info is great thanks! I tried to feel past all the fluff and it seems only 1 finger space but it might change if she is a she, hopefully ... You'd think by 6 months old it would be easy to tell!!