Giant Silkie Project.

[CindyinSD]

I just took some pics:

I'm guessing this first one above is a pullet? It's hard to get the camera to focus on it, but there are fine feathers on the body.

This one has down still, on its torso. So... cockerel?

 

[MysteryChicken]

I just took some pics:

View attachment 2102256
I'm guessing this first one above is a pullet? It's hard to get the camera to focus on it, but there are fine feathers on the body.

View attachment 2102257

This one has down still, on its torso. So... cockerel?

Yes, cockerel is likely.

 

[NatJ]

I have some alcohol ink... maybe a drop on the boys somewhere. (It's like Sharpie ink, but in a bottle.) I don't have any chick bands, but maybe I can get a little zip tie onto them by the time the ink starts to disappear. Any suggestions as to a good place to put the ink, where it won't be shed away too soon?

I sometimes mark birds by cutting the ends of some feathers. It lasts until they next molt (a few weeks for chicks; adult chickens keep the "markings" until the next autumn molt.)

I either trim feathers in one wing, or trim the ends of the tail feathers--depends on how visible I want it to be. A short tail is visible across the yard, clipped wing is visible only when I catch the bird and spread it out. (And because they molt the wing feathers a few at a time, I can usually catch it when they've molted about half, and trim the new ones, if I need the marking to last longer.)

For sexing pea comb chicks: I have better luck if I look carefully at how RED the wattles are. The wattles might be tiny, but the males do seem to get more red at a younger age, compared to the pullets.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Next update will be on the 28th.

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks, guys! Super helpful! Best I can tell, it looks like 7 boys and 2 girls, plus a couple mixes and the four silkies that I'm probably not gonna do anything to, regardless.

Looking forward to the next update!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thanks, guys! Super helpful! Best I can tell, it looks like 7 boys and 2 girls, plus a couple mixes and the four silkies that I'm probably not gonna do anything to, regardless.

Looking forward to the next update!

You're welcome.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Update coming later.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Chick growth update, 4 weeks old.

Excuse my sister in the background of the first picture.

 

[CindyinSD]

Holy Smokes! That is one growin' bird! Well done!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Holy Smokes! That is one growin' bird! Well done!

Thank you.
Just gotta wait until he's full grown to get a full measurement of his final size.