Do I have 3 Silkie roos?

[RunnerChick]

I have 4 Silkies. One I got sexed as a pullet from MyPetChicken (Not in this picture). Three I got from a friend, who was guessing on sex. The partridge is one (in the back), the light blue is one, and I can't tell whether the dark blue in the corner is one in this picture. More of that one in a minute. The new guys are about 9 weeks old. I believe the light blue crowed this morning, so I'm guessing it's probably a roo. I'm worried all three from my friend might be too, as they all have similar looks to their combs and wattles (and look pretty different from the one I have had since a chick, although she's about 1 week younger than them). I'll post more pics, but anyone have thoughts?

 

[RunnerChick]

This is the dark blue one from my friend. Didn't cooperate as well on the close up, but wattles are similar in size to the light blue in the next picture.

 

[RunnerChick]

This is the light blue one that I think crowed (it was a little weak vocalization, but not a cluck, trill, or squawk).

 

[RunnerChick]

This is the partridge. If you told me one of the three was definitely a hen, I'd pick this one. Of course, this is the one that my friend (who has a few show Silkies) thought was a roo.

 

[RunnerChick]

ANYONE??? Need better pictures. After looking through some of the other Silkie posts, I'm thinking I have three cockerels, as they all have top feathers that look like they are heading backwards. Is this a fair assessment? If it were that easy, wouldn't it be easier to sex this breed? Thanks in advance.

 

[TheChicknGarden]

I would say the light blue with wattles that size at 9weeks would be a roo but i cant see its comb (maybe a better pic.). Others too hard to tell.. At around 3-4months the roos will get streamers in their crest... Pullets usually at this age will have none to very little comb, no red or mulberry coloring in the comb or wattles but that just what ive experinced in my silkies.

 

[RunnerChick]

Thanks for the reply! Yep, the size of the wattles were what pointed me to think they might be roos. Unfortunately, all 3 of these guys have similarly sized combs and wattles. The combs are thick/wide compared to the other one I have. I keep trying to convince myself that it is just a different bloodline and therefore some of these characteristics are different. I know generally Silkies are pretty sweet and docile, and my friend's roo (daddy of these guys) is so nice her young son can bring him in the house and have him sit with him while he watches TV. However, I'm still a little concerned about having 3 roos. I have 18 total birds of different breeds. I purchased the other 15 as pullets and only have one Buff that I really am not 100% sure about yet (but seems like a pullet if not compared to a smaller/younger one directly). Are 3 Silkie roos too many? Would I have to house 1 separately or find another home? I was thinking the flock might be large enough to handle 2, but I guess that depends on their personalities. Thanks for any thoughts on this. I'll try to get more pictures with better images of the comb. These guys are just not as comfortable with me holding them as the ones I got at 1 day old.

 

[TheChicknGarden]

Silkies roos ive experienced have all been super sweet even with eachother... I say if they were raised together then they shouldnt be a problem...

 

[TheChicknGarden]

Ment to also add that the roos that i had all loved to be handled and petted even more so then my pullets

 

[RunnerChick]

Awesome news on the sweetness. I don't really need them to be hens, as I otherwise have plenty of egg-layers. I wanted 1 or 2 roos for the protection factor. But my friend's can't fly so I don't want them to get eaten, either! Right now we have a pretty good set up where they only go out when someone is home, with a dog that can't get to them but otherwise would easily fend off any other predator that might be more wily. So, maybe they'll just be pets. I'm working on taming them now. They're great once you get a hold of them, but they doth protest muchly when try to get close. They're not even brave enough to check out treats when the rest of the flock mobs me. I've only had them a week and a half, though, so they'll get there. Thanks again. Anyone else want to weigh in? I'll post more pictures.