Gender?

[MichyA]

I have two polish/silkie cross chickens. I think the black and orange is about 10 weeks and the orange is closer to 12 weeks old.

Anyone think they can tell the gender? I'm thinking pullet for the black and orange but less sure about the orange.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

The both look pullet to me. The hackle feathers aren't long on either of them. Neither are the saddle feathers. It a few more months, if they were cockerels, they would begin to crow, so that would be a good indicator. About what are their sizes and temperaments?

 

[MichyA]

They are both very cautious and skittish. They will slowly come to eat from my hand and then run away if I move at all. If I'm holding them they will relax but generally don't seem to like to be handled. They run away as soon as I place them back on the ground. The orange is larger than the black and orange but I think there's a slight age difference.

 

[MichyA]

Here's a good profile of them

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

They are both very cautious and skittish. They will slowly come to eat from my hand and then run away if I move at all. If I'm holding them they will relax but generally don't seem to like to be handled. They run away as soon as I place them back on the ground. The orange is larger than the black and orange but I think there's a slight age difference.

Did you raise them from chicks? If so did you handle them a lot? Can I have a size comparison to your other chickens?

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Did you raise them from chicks? If so did you handle them a lot? Can I have a size comparison to your other chickens?

And are your other chickens all hens?

 

[MichyA]

And are your other chickens all hens?

No, I didn't raise them from chicks, I got them a month ago when they were "about 6 weeks old." That could be why they are skittish They are so cute, wish they liked me more lol

I also have 3 black silkies who are about 23/24 weeks....and my white polish is a bit younger than that. All pullets as far as I can tell. Still waiting for my first egg.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

No, I didn't raise them from chicks, I got them a month ago when they were "about 6 weeks old." That could be why they are skittish They are so cute, wish they liked me more lol

I also have 3 black silkies who are about 23/24 weeks....and my white polish is a bit younger than that. All pullets as far as I can tell. Still waiting for my first egg.

They all look about the same size. So far I'm betting pullets. It's really a waiting game though!

 

[MichyA]

They all look about the same size. So far I'm betting pullets. It's really a waiting game though!

They grew so much the past two weeks! They are definitely a bit smaller than my black silkies. The white polish is my largest.

Here's pics of them just two weeks ago. The orange one really got larger the past few weeks and the little black and orange chicks head feathers grew a lot too!

 

[MichyA]

And are your other chickens all hens?

You think if I handle them a lot I could earn their trust or is it too late at this point?