Help sex my silkies 8 weeks old

[JennArdjewski77]

The splash

The blue

The black

The way younger one I would love any best guesses on. I know it's way too early but still want opinions. Thank you for your help the suspense is killing me.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Honestly they are too young to be sure. Other may post with ideas. If you really must know, you can feather test (DNA test for gender). I did with mine at 7 weeks of age. They are little cuties!

 

[JennArdjewski77]

I thought for sure the blue and splash were boys because their combs are larger, the have larger bodies than the black one, they are more curious and the black one is more skittish, and the blue and splash are bumping chests already.

 

[JennArdjewski77]

Honestly they are too young to be sure. Other may post with ideas. If you really must know, you can feather test (DNA test for gender). I did with mine at 7 weeks of age. They are little cuties!

Thank you btw. I love them all and can't keep any roosters bc of close neighbors, unless he is a soft crower, like I have read silkies can be. I'm praying either girls and one quiet rooster.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Thank you btw. I love them all and can't keep any roosters bc of close neighbors, unless he is a soft crower, like I have read silkies can be. I'm praying either girls and one quiet rooster.

Well you have some time. Boys will not crow until 3-4 months earliest. Silkies often crow later. My one boy started at 3 and half months. He sounds like a little trumpet. Luckily I live outside of town and his crows are masked by so many louder noises, including 6 feral roosters who live right next door, so nobody seems to mind.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I thought for sure the blue and splash were boys because their combs are larger, the have larger bodies than the black one, they are more curious and the black one is more skittish, and the blue and splash are bumping chests already.

All of those things can be boy signs, but girls chest bump as well when young. My rooster is named Jane, just to give you an idea how wrong we can be!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I will call your post to attention of some other more knowledgable silkie owners,
@SoftSilkie @LynnaePB any ideas?

 

[Matilda Belle]

Too young

 

[LynnaePB]

Pretty sure I just answered on another thread but my guesses are the same.

Splash and blue are looking like likely cockerels to me. Those combs are fairly wide and already look to be starting to develop.

The black has such a small comb I do think it is likely a pullet.

I don't really have a guess on the last younger chick. I think it will take a while longer to guess on that one.

Behavior/size sounds like it backs up the above guesses. I don't try to sex based solely on size/behavior too much anymore as pullets can be just as big and/or rowdy as cockerels and vice versa (it happens rather frequently in my chicks). Comb size has been fairly reliable for me though in offspring from my own flock. Of course silkies can surprise you so I'm still just guessing.

 

[black_cat]

Pretty sure I just answered on another thread but my guesses are the same.

Splash and blue are looking like likely cockerels to me. Those combs are fairly wide and already look to be starting to develop.

The black has such a small comb I do think it is likely a pullet.

I don't really have a guess on the last younger chick. I think it will take a while longer to guess on that one.

Behavior/size sounds like it backs up the above guesses. I don't try to sex based solely on size/behavior too much anymore as pullets can be just as big and/or rowdy as cockerels and vice versa (it happens rather frequently in my chicks). Comb size has been fairly reliable for me though in offspring from my own flock. Of course silkies can surprise you so I'm still just guessing.

I agree with this post.