How do you sex silkies?

[chichi56788]

I have 2 2 month old silkies. 1 im pretty sure is a guy and the other is a girl, but how do I tell for sure?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Wait until one crows or lays an egg?

 

[chichi56788]

Quote:
Thats what I thought

How old are they when they start to crow/lay eggs?

 

[Jasper_899]

Roosters usually get streamers:

And hens have a more rounded crest:

Hope this helps.
I know for sure that one of mine is a hen, but she hasn't laid an egg for me yet and its been 8 months. Silkies are confusing.

 

[Mahonri]

DW thinks I need a pair of white silkies. I could also handle buff ones.... but alas I have too many chickens at the moment.

 

[chichi56788]

Here is the picture of the chicks. Which do you think is the cockerel and which the pullet?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
The left one will probably end up being a male and the right a female. But they are still WAY WAY too young to be sure. Im just guessing by their appearances.

 

[chichi56788]

That is what I think too. Poppycock (left) is much more docile and Honeybee squawks like crazy when I try to pick her up.

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
That's how I sex Silkies too, mostly by comparing crests.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
The left one will probably end up being a male and the right a female. But they are still WAY WAY too young to be sure. Im just guessing by their appearances.

I agree.