Any tips on sexing silkies and a sultan?

[emartin]

We have silkies about 1-2 months old now...white, red, buff, and lavender.

Two are OBVIOUS roos with super huge combs that are bicolor (lower parts are the normal blue/black, while the top is some shade of pink).

However, only like two have zero comb development and appear to be guaranteed females. While the others do have some comb development but it's minimal and the normal skin color. One of them for example is a white silkie that grew a lot faster than the others and has a comb but it's not obnoxiously huge like the comb on one of the buff silkies.

SO any tips? Or would my best bet be to photograph each one's head and post the pics here?

~Ed

 

[briana1975]

Pictures would help. Mine were 12 weeks before I was sure.

 

[Pathfinders]

Sometimes a tipoff is the voice of each bird. Males have lower, louder voices when you pick them up, females higher and softer.

Males have longer necks, and stand up straighter. Females are more compact and rounded.

At this stage their crests may be filled in enough to tell, but may not. Males will start to show "streamers" with more elongated crests, females will (should) be more rounded.

Post some pics.

 

[lurky]

I found comb development useless because i have hens with 3X more comb/wattles than my roosters- in silkies only. But i found body posture, tail development, and long legs and neck to be quicker indicators. I also found the pullets will mind their own business and peck at the ground, while the little cockerals are checking out everything going on, on lookout duty.
But thats just from my experience with them. I would listen to the silkie breeders if they add some info to help you. I hope you get exactly what you want

 

[SunshineSilkies]

I have some that are 16 weeks old and just starting to show signs of their sex. Until you hear a crow or see an egg.......

 

[emartin]

The one Buff Silkie rooster with the huge comb did a few pathetic attempts at crowing this afternoon... Really funny sounding haha...


Anyway I'll get pictures up today or tomorrow.

 

[emartin]

Also we have a sultan I am pretty sure is a female since I see no comb at all (though there is some minimal reddish skin up there). I'll get a better profile shot of the head soon but here are the most recent pictures if any of you want to take a guess on confirming that it is a female or if it is actually a male:

Thanks,
~Ed