6month old black buff Silkie pullet or cockerel?

[ecb4156]

I’ve posted about onyx before but I thought I’d ask again to be sure that she is a female. She’s very sweet and affectionate unlike my known silkie cockerel. She has a very small comb and no waddles. Please tell me what you think! She’s 6 months now. Also when do silkies start laying? Thanks!

 

[Braves06]

Looks like pullet to me

 

[Duck_life]

Can you take comb pictures? I'm sure it is a pullet if she hasn't crowed yet, sometimes silkies can trick you though. I'm going with pullet.

 

[chickens really]

I'm thinking Pullet too. Very cute..

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I agree need a better comb/face picture. I have a silkie I'm finally guessing is a boy because of comb.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She’s 6 months now. Also when do silkies start laying?

Onyx, at 6 months old... I can confidently say is a pullet... And NOT because she hasn't crowed as that is an individual personality thing and my friend had a very clear LF cockerel... who didn't make his first crow until almost 2 years old! Then suddenly this season he found his voice.

That gal there though... she isn't sporting a mullet, sometimes referred to as streamers when first coming in. But she also does NOT have the long saddle feathers that males will usually be sporting quite well by this age... even Silkies. Stance is also pullet style. So while none of these clues may mean anything by themselves... added together, I think it's a clear picture!

How late they lay will depend on several things including line, feed, day light hours, time of year they hatch, etc... I have had my line lay as early as about 20 weeks when hatched super early in spring and as late as 8 months. I have heard tell of others not laying until maybe a year old or more! And I have had other breeds not lay until 9+ months, that went through mini molts or what have you despite being provided for properly... they do what their hormones tell them not what our books say they should.

I also have to wonder if breeds with large crests are getting light blocked out extra and delaying onset of lay. But 24 weeks (or 6 months) is still a tad early this time of year in my experience... for Silkies.

 

[Duck_life]

Onyx, at 6 months old... I can confidently say is a pullet... And NOT because she hasn't crowed as that is an individual personality thing and my friend had a very clear LF cockerel... who didn't make his first crow until almost 2 years old! Then suddenly this season he found his voice.

That gal there though... she isn't sporting a mullet, sometimes referred to as streamers when first coming in. But she also does NOT have the long saddle feathers that males will usually be sporting quite well by this age... even Silkies. Stance is also pullet style. So while none of these clues may mean anything by themselves... added together, I think it's a clear picture!

How late they lay will depend on several things including line, feed, day light hours, time of year they hatch, etc... I have had my line lay as early as about 20 weeks when hatched super early in spring and as late as 8 months. I have heard tell of others not laying until maybe a year old or more! And I have had other breeds not lay until 9+ months, that went through mini molts or what have you despite being provided for properly... they do what their hormones tell them not what our books say they should.

I also have to wonder if breeds with large crests are getting light blocked out extra and delaying onset of lay. But 24 weeks (or 6 months) is still a tad early this time of year in my experience.

Good explanation !!

 

[ecb4156]

Onyx, at 6 months old... I can confidently say is a pullet... And NOT because she hasn't crowed as that is an individual personality thing and my friend had a very clear LF cockerel... who didn't make his first crow until almost 2 years old! Then suddenly this season he found his voice.

That gal there though... she isn't sporting a mullet, sometimes referred to as streamers when first coming in. But she also does NOT have the long saddle feathers that males will usually be sporting quite well by this age... even Silkies. Stance is also pullet style. So while none of these clues may mean anything by themselves... added together, I think it's a clear picture!

How late they lay will depend on several things including line, feed, day light hours, time of year they hatch, etc... I have had my line lay as early as about 20 weeks when hatched super early in spring and as late as 8 months. I have heard tell of others not laying until maybe a year old or more! And I have had other breeds not lay until 9+ months, that went through mini molts or what have you despite being provided for properly... they do what their hormones tell them not what our books say they should.

I also have to wonder if breeds with large crests are getting light blocked out extra and delaying onset of lay. But 24 weeks (or 6 months) is still a tad early this time of year in my experience... for Silkies.

I love how you wrote everything out! Thank you for explaining so much!!!