Feel like guessing genders?

[Winniethesilkie]

Theyre around 5 weeks, still early but just curious on opinions. Silkie/EE cross. The last 2 of them have very slow growing tail feathers. The first one is my messy little crossbeak. Thanks for input!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Better pictures of the combs might be helpful, along with waiting till they're a little older. Silkies are harder to sex. On the feather growth, pullets feathers normally grow faster than cockerels. (Some cases may vary, especially by breed.)

On the crossbeak, do you need help on her?

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Better pictures of the combs might be helpful, along with waiting till they're a little older. Silkies are harder to sex. On the feather growth, pullets feathers normally grow faster than cockerels. (Some cases may vary, especially by breed.)

On the crossbeak, do you need help on her?

So far she is doing great! I've searched everything I can find on here about them. She eats mash on her own 3 times a day and is growing. She hates when I clean her lol. Thank you!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

So far she is doing great! I've searched everything I can find on here about them. She eats mash on her own 3 times a day and is growing. She hates when I clean her lol. Thank you!

Awesome! Have you started filing her beak down yet? If not, a regular emery board nail file works great, and is recommended to file every two weeks. She might be too young for you to want to file yet, which is fine.

I was going to share this article, but maybe you've already read it? https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/

 

[Silkiesaz]

Theyre around 5 weeks, still early but just curious on opinions. Silkie/EE cross. The last 2 of them have very slow growing tail feathers. The first one is my messy little crossbeak. Thanks for input!

I think it's still too early. I just wanted to say I had a cross beak who looked just like yours! Good luck with her/him!

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Awesome! Have you started filing her beak down yet? If not, a regular emery board nail file works great, and is recommended to file every two weeks. She might be too young for you to want to file yet, which is fine.

I was going to share this article, but maybe you've already read it? https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...kens-including-tube-feeding-techniques.64321/

I did read and save that, it really helped. I was wondering when can I start adding bread and other suggestions to her mash? And is there a certain kind of bread that is best?

 

[Pinedale Silkies]

I’d say maybe the first and last one are cockerels. Last one has a bit of reddish tinge to his comb and it seems a bit more developed. I can’t properly see the first one’s comb, but something about the way its chest is a bit more puffed out makes me think it might be a cockrel. Bit early to tell though.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

I think it's still too early. I just wanted to say I had a cross beak who looked just like yours! Good luck with her/him!

Thank you! I really hope its a girl, I cant keep roosters she is so pretty!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I did read and save that, it really helped. I was wondering when can I start adding bread and other suggestions to her mash? And is there a certain kind of bread that is best?

Bread isn't highly recommended for giving to poultry, though maybe people do, including me. It's better as a rare treat, not part of a diet. Would you want to try making your own bread for her? I have a gluten free recipe if you're interested.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Bread isn't highly recommended for giving to poultry, though maybe people do, including me. It's better as a rare treat, not part of a diet. Would you want to try making your own bread for her? I have a gluten free recipe if you're interested.

I would love that, thank you! I noticed she will pick up shavings anyone kicks in her food, so bread or something might help her eat. But for how bad her cross is this young she fills her crop up all day