At what age can you be positive that pullets are not roosters?

[SunHwaKwon]

Usually around that time combs will start getting bigger and red on males, at least with the breeds I have. A red comb on a young bird is a pretty sure sign, but lack of a comb doesn't guarantee its a pullet because it could be a late developing male. And some breeds like Anconas have very boyish combs early on in both sexes, apparently.

 

[HaloAmanda]

Well should all males be apparent by 20weeks? Including silkies?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Yes I believe so, for most breed. I don't keep silkies though so someone else will need to come in. I believe @AmyLynn2374 raises them and can tell you.

 

[HaloAmanda]

My mom raised and bred chickens, silkies being her favorite but she passed away in 2012 and I'm starting with chickens again. We had close to 100 hens at one point and I was very involved in the raising and care but I fee like such a newbie!!! This site has been a great help so far!

 

[HaloAmanda]

A pic of some of my babies tonight

 

[QueenMisha]

Do you have any links explaining this?

I don't have any on hand (though I'm in the process of writing a guide on it, to be posted on this site... eventually). Google "rooster saddle feathers" and then "hen saddle feathers" for examples of each. Hackle and wing bow feathers are helpful to some extent, but a bit less definite... hackles in particular can look very similar in males vs. females. The male-specific wing bow feathers come in first, then the saddle.

Well should all males be apparent by 20weeks? Including silkies?

The vast majority, yes, but only if you know what to look for. Specifically feather type. Some males will be subtle - where they look "henny" enough that beginners see them as pullets but an experienced or well researched keeper can pick them out in an instant. Silkies are the exception - they can take up to ten months or a year to sex. This generally only applies to good quality birds - hatchery birds are very watered down, and can be sexed as early as three or four months and certainly by five or six.

 

[donrae]

At 6 weeks most cockerels will be apparent. Silkies excluded

At this age, it's mostly about the comb. Any bird with a red comb, under 3 months, is a male.

color can play into it here, too. Red patches on the wings of a black or white bird means male. Darker shading on the wings of a buff bird means male.

Sex feathers don't come into play until around 3 months. Usually by then, most birds you can already tell by comb and/or color. You can also tell by build, cockerels are leggier and have thicker legs as a rule.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

You may find this helpful

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/is-my-chicken-a-pullet-hen-or-a-cockerel-cock