My name is Kati and I have chickens

[KougleMom]

Time to own up to the fact that I have been reading threads and not contributing.
We live in Washington State. Our flock consists of 2 Gold Laced Brahmas, 3 Silkies and 1 Copper Marrans. We also have 2 humans and one cat living here.
I have lots of questions about telling the age and sex of our chickies. I know that they are over 7 weeks (because we've had them that long!) but I don't know how to tell their ages. I plan to post pics soon, but I am at work and I don't have any recent ones with me!

Excited to get to know you!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Look forward to seeing the pics of your flock once you are able to get them posted!

 

[drumstick diva]

Kati, I don't know about the others but, silkies are very difficult to sex before 4-5 mos. of age, and sometimes not till they crow or lay. You could try posting photos on "what breed or gender is this," but I think it makes more sense to post photos on the breed threads ie,"Silkie Thread, the Brahma and Marans threads. Hopefully breeders have spent more time with the birds that the average chicken person who may have been around various breeds.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2, silkies are a hard breed to sex.

If you have pics and questions you can ask here https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC, Kati! Glad you decided to join our flock. Just post any questions you may have on the forum and I'm sure you'll get lots of replies. We are here to help in any way we can. If you will post the pics of your chickens on our What Breed and Gender section at https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this, there are some real experienced people at identifying sex and age there. You have a nice mix of breeds. I've had all of them in the past and the Brahmas and Silkies are very calm and friendly birds; and I like the chocolate eggs of the Marans. I also have cats (2 of them). Good luck with your flock.

 

[KougleMom]

Thank you to both of you! I already feel so welcome!

I have heard that the Silkies are not easy until they make it obvious. My boyfriend informs me that one of them has been practicing crowing, so I think we all know what that means. Now that I think about it, at what age do they start to crow? Maybe I'll go visit the Silkie thread right now!

 

[KougleMom]

And just like that 2 more! Thank you!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thank you to both of you! I already feel so welcome!

I have heard that the Silkies are not easy until they make it obvious. My boyfriend informs me that one of them has been practicing crowing, so I think we all know what that means. Now that I think about it, at what age do they start to crow? Maybe I'll go visit the Silkie thread right now!

It all depends on the chicken. SOme start crowing as early as 8 weeks while others wait until a like 8 months.

 

[Michael OShay]

I have heard that the Silkies are not easy until they make it obvious.

What you heard about Silkies is correct. They are not easy to sex when young. However, if it is crowing, it is definitely a rooster. )

 

[KougleMom]

Yeah, that much I gathered. Hopefully he is the only one. And hopefully the neighbors don't mind (I have heard some crowing in the neighborhood so I think we may get by.) And hopefully we get our own house eventually too in an area where no one cares!