How does one sex a silkie chicken??? Male-female????

[countryday04]

I have six silkies and only one of them has a comb and the others don't seem to. One of the bigger ones seems to be more aggressive then the others. They are 4-5 weeks old. They are just starting to really show their fuzzy feathers on their heads. They are so cute and so sweet. My 7 year old daughter thinks they are ugly but she loves to hold them and love on them. They like her and will follow her threw the house.

 

[arinarin]

male

 

[Lorianna]

Hi Julie, and everyone else!

I am a fairly new chicken owner. I had over 50 of them 30+ years ago, but forgot quite a lot. I never had Silkies before. Last spring I purchased 4 chicks, and got all hens. On Valentine's Day, Little Miss Chicken Noodles was murdered by a raccoon. I decided to replace her because with 3, one was always being left out. I found I could only purchase a minimum of 2. I couldn't decide, so I ended up getting 2 more "standard" chicks, and 2 Silkies.

I have also been wondering about sexing as I want to name mine as well! The other 2 new ones have had names since shortly after I got them. My Silkies are almost 8 weeks. I was out of town for a couple weeks, and when I recently got back, I noticed the more aggressive of the 2 has little black chin waddles at the base of the beak. The other does not. They both have the topknot that streams back. The one with wattles is bigger, and has always been the most aggressive of all 4. It roosts with the 2 bigger chicks, and it seems as though it forces the smaller one to roost alone on the lower of 2 roosts.I also noticed the one with waddles has some regular looking feathers in the tail instead of the non-barbicel feather. It seems that the one with waddles must be a cockerel, right?!? I really don't know! If anyone has any input, please let me know!

In my research much is mentioned about Marco Polo mentioning Silkies on his return from China. I've also read that the Japanese had them before the Chinese. Does anyone really know the origin? I would like to name them Chinese or Japanese names but don't know which would be appropriate!

I'm also wondering about them living outside with the other chickens. They just seem so much more fragile! They get along great with the others. The feathers on their feet get messy and sometimes wet. I worry about their feet freezing in the winter! I live in Colorado between Denver and Boulder. Anyone with Silkies live around here? And does anyone have advice on that! After I get off here, I'm going to do some browsing on bird cages. I'm wondering if they are housed in a big bird cage, with all waste falling down into the tray below, if they will remain cleaner and therefore healthier. My boyfriend thinks I'm going way overboard! I just want them to have a happy, healthy life if I am going to keep them captive for all of it!

Sorry about the long post. I've been reading for a long time, but this is my first post!

Lori

 

[peckyscotch]

Yeah I've read that you need to keep their feet feathers dry as much as possible so I have mine in a portable run that I move around every so often so that the grass doesn't turn to mud. I'm in Scotland though so its probably colder and wetter here than where you are in america.

 

[bmock26]

can anyone tell if these little guys are roosters or hens

 

[bmock26]

hello. I was reading a response of yours and it sounds like know your chicken info. I just got 5 silkies and 3 Rhode island reds. I can tell the sex of my rhode island red but not the silkies. I posted a pic of my two white silkies any ideas on if they are male or female.

 

[JESSIEJAMES2003]

So what's the verdict ? Now Im in the same boat I have 4 white silkies that are about 5 weeks old. What did you end up with ? Do you have any tips?

 

[donhunnewell]

Look at their head poofs and their tiny combs. The males will have a pointer ball of furr on their heads while the girls will grow a rounder one. As for combs, males will have ones earlier. 6 weeks is a bit young. Wait till about 3 months to tell for sure. Thats part of the silkie experince.

Thank you

 

[lucy83]

male or female???