First Time Silkie Owner

[BarmyBantams]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if you would be able to assist, Can you help me sex this guy? I believed it was a hen until it started mounting the other hens and had a little crow the other day. Very quiet and has not done it since. I know that sometimes hens can crow? It also makes the same noise as a chicken after it has lain an egg so I'm totally confused! No eggs yet from any of them.

However he has no spurs and a small comb. Would this just be a spurless small combed male?

Pumpkin is his/her name

Thanks

 

[LilPeeps]

It's definately a cockerel. The males will get streamers at the back of the crests, larger combs and wattles, and a more upright stance. That bird looks young, which would explain the lack of spur growth, although silkies don't tend to get very large spurs, but it's not unheard of.

 

[nzpouter]

boy... absolutely.

 

[sonew123]

YOU CAN SEE STREAMERS? Does anyone have a better picture of the streamers I hear people talking about? your BOY is beautiful

 

[LilPeeps]

The bird to the far right is a male, the rest are females. The streamers on him are clearly visible.

 

[spydertoys]

The boys don't have the real poofy head..instead they have "streamers" of feathers sticking up and out all over their head. That pic shows them really well.

 

[sonew123]

now that just excites me-I have 3 lavender silkies and 1 partrige silkie-all about 8 weeks old-2 of my lav's have big poofs and 1 has streamers -little ones and my partridge one I think doesnt have any either!!! Ill double check and post a photo of them you tell me what you think tonight?

 

[10chicks]

Pumpkin is HIS name!!!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

You can usually tell gender on partridge and grey by the penciling (or lack thereof) on the wing and body feathers much sooner than streamers form. Of course partridge males are usually prety black for hte longest time, then finally start getting colour on their wing bows and hackles.