Help me sex this 8 month old silkie please

[Anne-Marie S]

I’ve been lurking this site for a few months but only just signed up, please forgive me if I’ve skipped anything.

About 4 months ago I bought this Silkie “pullet” advertised as about 16 weeks old. At the time it looked like a “she”, V comb, no wattles, rounded feather shape on head etc.

Since “she” started moulting though, “her” head has developed what might be streamers and “her” comb has gotten wider.

Could anyone please help me identify “her” gender? I already have two roos that are ok with each other, I really don’t want to add fire to the mix. I have more photos if needed.

Thank you.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Closeup pictures of the comb with crest pushed back? looks rather cockerel-ish to me?

 

[Anne-Marie S]

Closeup pictures of the comb with crest pushed back? looks rather cockerel-ish to me?

Wow that was QUICK! Thank you Lemon-Drop. That’s what I thought too. Thank you for helping confirm my suspicions.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

I’ve been lurking this site for a few months but only just signed up, please forgive me if I’ve skipped anything.

About 4 months ago I bought this Silkie “pullet” advertised as about 16 weeks old. At the time it looked like a “she”, V comb, no wattles, rounded feather shape on head etc.

Since “she” started moulting though, “her” head has developed what might be streamers and “her” comb has gotten wider.

Could anyone please help me identify “her” gender? I already have two roos that are ok with each other, I really don’t want to add fire to the mix. I have more photos if needed.

Thank you.

My Orpington rooster was crowing by 4 months old. I don’t know anything about your breed but wouldn’t a Roo be crowing by 8 months?

 

[Anne-Marie S]

My Orpington rooster was crowing by 4 months old. I don’t know anything about your breed but wouldn’t a Roo be crowing by 8 months?

Hi LittleMamaBigPapa. That’s the exact reason I posted pictures here. I had been lurking this site for months viewing other posts about sexing silkies and help with sexing.

For the longest time Poopy (that’s what my partner called this one and it stuck) looked like a girl, the changes have only been happening over the last month or so. Even if I got Poopy as a day old I would’ve thought I’d see streamers and comb broadening by now.

At 32ish weeks I’d have thought a cockerel would be growing spurs in and starting to crow, or a pullet may be just starting to lay, none of which have happened yet.

I have been a bit confused.

With that said, I did have a chicken that laid 4 eggs then started crowing and finally became a dad back when I was a kid. I doubt that could happen twice in one lifetime though lol.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Hi LittleMamaBigPapa. That’s the exact reason I posted pictures here. I had been lurking this site for months viewing other posts about sexing silkies and help with sexing.

For the longest time Poopy (that’s what my partner called this one and it stuck) looked like a girl, the changes have only been happening over the last month or so. Even if I got Poopy as a day old I would’ve thought I’d see streamers and comb broadening by now.

At 32ish weeks I’d have thought a cockerel would be growing spurs in and starting to crow, or a pullet may be just starting to lay, none of which have happened yet.

I have been a bit confused.

With that said, I did have a chicken that laid 4 eggs then started crowing and finally became a dad back when I was a kid. I doubt that could happen twice in one lifetime though lol.

a chicken laid 4 eggs then crowed!?!

My very first 3 chicks back in 2009 were buff Orpington. The male was extremely easy to identify at 6 weeks. His comb grew faster and he stood erect whereas the hens walked more horizontal. The roo also feathered faster. Wish they were all that easy to identify

 

[Anne-Marie S]

Yeah, I’ve often had people not believe it lol. I don’t blame them. I have read that hens can sometimes take on the appearance of a male but not actually the ability to father chicks, so I’m not sure about how that happened either unless it was a hermaphrodite

Thanks for the info. I know other breeds show signs of gender much earlier and much easier. Like you said, if only all breeds were so easy. I’m new to silkies and had no idea how to sex them to begin with. Poopy isn’t making it easy for me. All appearance since a month ago tells me cockerel, but if so, then why is there no crowing or spurs yet?

I may have to wait a few more months to know for sure.

Btw, lucky you having Buff Orpington, they’re a lovely breed.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

I blamed the naming of my rooster! LOL. My husband named him Beans and I insisted that’s what made him turn out to be a male. Lol We haven’t had buff orps for several years. They are very sweet but very broody for weeks on end. We then got several Rhoade island reds, then americauna (recently learned they were most likely Easter egger). And the 20 I just ordered are 5 each of: Olive egger, Easter Egger, welsummer, and French Copper marans

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I’m sorry... I misread it as 8 weeks, not months, lol.

I’m now rather thinking pullet. Do you have any other chickens that could be laying eggs, and her eggs getting mixed in? I’d still like to see a comb close up though.

That comb is big... I’m not entirely sure.

Here’s a Silkie Cockerel and pullets for comparison. (Black is cockerel, Rest are pullets)

 

[Anne-Marie S]

Oh wow! What a flock! I wonder what made him think of Beans though

Buff Orps are one of my favourites, I’ve never owned one though.

I haven’t had chickens since I was growing up. It all started just this last January. One day I may come across someone willing to sell me some Buff Orps. I currently have an Australorp and an Australorp X Isa Brown, but that’s the closest I’ve come to Orps. They’re rather broody too lol, but I don’t mind.