My 3 Silkies

[RockerHen]

I took the pictures of each bird against a different back round so hopefully that helps.  I had read somewhere that the top part of the comb that is up in the crest area is different on boys and girls.  They boys being more squared with almost 2 points.  And the girls coming more to just one point.  If this is true than Pouf is a boy and Tootsie and Pepper are girls.  That is also what behaviours are suggesting as well.  I didn't know any of the specific characteristics to look for but I am learning.  These little puffy cuties are different than the big chickens and they are super fun. 



eta:  OH!  Also, any opinions on what color you would call them?

They would be considered blue.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Well, Pouf was crowing quite well today. I was standing right by the coop and could see him well. He also has a bit more of the red coming out on his wattle. Tootsie is also looking a lot more like a rooster too. Its amazing what just a few pointers and a few days can do. So Tootsie will have to go to a new home. I just see no sense in having two roosters in there.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Well Pouf is looking way more boyish! His little comb area is getting much more red now. Today when we were handling him and getting a closer look at him I noticed that he has some blondish buff coloring on his neck area. He also scratched pretty bad. He isn't much for being held. Do any of you ever clip the nails on your Silkies?

 

[LemonMeringue]

Pouf

 

[LemonMeringue]

This is the area, on the back of his neck that he showing the blonde/buff coloring. Kinda hard to see because it was so bright outside. He was kind of enjoying a gentle petting on his comb. It relaxed him. But he certainly isn't a lap bird by any means. If you let go, he is gone. Some of our other bantams are way more friendly than any of the Silkies.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Well Pouf is looking way more boyish! His little comb area is getting much more red now. Today when we were handling him and getting a closer look at him I noticed that he has some blondish buff coloring on his neck area. He also scratched pretty bad. He isn't much for being held. Do any of you ever clip the nails on your Silkies?

I have never clipped the nails on any of my chooks, but I suppose you could try. Just clip off very small bits at a time - it's so easy to clip the quick by accident on black-clawed animals and then they bleed like hell.
By the way how are Tootsie and Pepper doing? Have you got any more recent pics of them?

 

[LemonMeringue]

Yes trimming nails can be tricky, especially when its dark. I used to raise tropical birds and I often had to trim nails, plus our rabbit, dogs and cats ...... I may give it a try. I don't want to upset the Silkie too much. So I will just have to see.


Tootsie and Pepper are doing well. Tootsie does seem more boyish looking than Pepper. But that may be because Pepper is so cute with her crest. But Tootsie is a bit smaller than Pouf and not really showing the signs of the reddish color on the crest or wattles. But they are still young-ish. If Tootsie is a boy......I just need to decide if it would be better to keep a smaller, slower developing male, or a larger, faster developing rooster.

Here are all 5 a couple of nights ago, in the Egg Hut when they went up to roost for the night.

 

[LemonMeringue]

A better pic of Pepper in the center, Tootsie on the right, Frizz on the left.

 

[Alex15]

Naww, Tootsie is looking a bit more like a roo now! My silkie roo doesn't mind being held, but won't really sit on me (except last night when I brought him inside to meet a friend) like my girl does. But I guess he's just busy bustling around on the ground, thinking he's taking care of his girls (I don't think they actually listen to him, poor boy).

His buff colours on the neck sounds cute, he's just fancy!

 

[LemonMeringue]

Well this is Tootsie now......kind of a funny name considering he crows now. I'm trying to find him a new home. Too much squabbling between roosters. He is sweet though.