Can silkies from the same box at the feed store have one with muffs and one without!!

[jemmoc13]

Hi there! I have 8 week old silkies. One black and two white. My white ones are from the same place and I'm 99% sure are hatch mates. But one has muffs and the other does not. And then to top it all off, the one without muffs (Vivian) crowed for the first time yesterday. I'm heartbroken over this. But besides that sadness, what about the muffs?! Is that normal!?

 

[jemmoc13]

 

[RicGail]

You have bearded and non bearded Silkies. Yes, this can happen. It depends on their breeding and genetics. There are probably bearded and non bearded in their parents, grand parents etc. I have a female that makes some "callings" that sounds like a bad crowing, but is the hen that is my avatar.. At 8 weeks it's a little early to tell biddy from cockerel...
In your pic you have a perch? Silkies are not really perching birds and the one I think I see is very high for them. They could get hurt trying to get up that high or hurt themselves getting down. Put the perch very low to the ground... good luck!!

 

[jemmoc13]

Thank you for your info! My largest one has made that "crowing sound" consistently for the past three mornings. I'm still hoping she is a she and not a he. Can you tell at this age what they are? I also read before getting them that they prefer to sleep in piles and not roost. However, my black silkie actually roosts at night while the two white ones sleep on the ground. That's why I have the perch in their run. She roosts on it daily with no problem. But thank you for the advice!!

 

[RicGail]

You're very welcome. It is very difficult to REALLY know at 8 weeks the sex of silkies and or most chickens... But if it is a true crow sound then you may have a roo.. Time most certainly tell..
As far as the roost; for the safety of your bird I would bring the perch down some so the bird doesn't hurt itself landing on the floor. Most silkies do not roost. I have 20 of them and not one has roosted and I had a low perch in one house and they jump over it!! Good luck with your pretty silkies!!