Giant Silkie Project.

[MysteryChicken]

Chick growth update: 3 weeks old.
It's a big boy.

 

[MedicDog]

He looks great.

 

[MysteryChicken]

He looks great.

Yes he does.

 

[CindyinSD]

Beeooteeful! Does he get a big boy name now? (Or did I miss/forget that somehow. )

 

[MysteryChicken]

Beeooteeful! Does he get a big boy name now? (Or did I miss/forget that somehow. )

Have any name suggestions?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Beeooteeful! Does he get a big boy name now? (Or did I miss/forget that somehow. )

Originally thought it was a female due feather growth rate, but apparently with this cross it's reversed with the males.

 

[CindyinSD]

Oh goodness... I'm terrible with names. Bear? Wooly Bully? Yeti?

What do you mean about the feather growth rate? Is that unique to silkies? I'm raising quite a few small-combed birds (Lt Brahmas, Chanteclers) this year, since I got so much frostbite on my roosters last winter.

Anyway, I was wondering how long it would take before I could recognize the males. I intend to caponize the extra cockerels, and that needs doing between 1-2 lbs. With the single combed birds, not a problem, but... If I can tell by feather sexing, that would be great.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Oh goodness... I'm terrible with names. Bear? Wooly Bully? Yeti?

What do you mean about the feather growth rate? Is that unique to silkies? I'm raising quite a few small-combed birds (Lt Brahmas, Chanteclers) this year, since I got so much frostbite on my roosters last winter.

Anyway, I was wondering how long it would take before I could recognize the males. I intend to caponize the extra cockerels, and that needs doing between 1-2 lbs. With the single combed birds, not a problem, but... If I can tell by feather sexing, that would be great.

I'm referring to how fast female brahmas usually feather out.
Males will feather out slowly, while females feather out fast.

With silkies, the females usually grow in their tail feathers faster, & fuller then males.

With brahmas, sexing by comb, & wattle growth isn't accurate if you try to do this, I've had brahma pullets get red in the face as early as 6-7 weeks.

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks so much! I'm moving my Brahma chicks out of the garage today, and I did notice the strange feathering-out patterns. Some of them have nothing but fuzz on their bodies while their wings are beautifully feathered.

I'm gonna go have a look at them...

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?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thanks so much! I'm moving my Brahma chicks out of the garage today, and I did notice the strange feathering-out patterns. Some of them have nothing but fuzz on their bodies while their wings are beautifully feathered.

I'm gonna go have a look at them...

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?

You're welcome.

On the top of their heads, is what I do with food dye. Should work the same way with the ink you have.