Need tips on telling Silkie Gender

[arlee453]

My silky guys are 3.5 weeks old now and growing more every day. As they get more mature, I'm beginning to face the reality that at some point I'm going to have to weed out the roos.

(although.... DH DID say today, well, if we're going to keep a roo, we'll have to keep that white one if he's one...wish I had my recorder going when he said THAT!!)

So, I'm looking for tips on telling gender of Silkies. I know they can be sneaky, but are there any tell-tell signs short of crowing and egg laying??

Thanks!

 

[seminolewind]

I am very curious too about little telltale signs.....

 

[BantyChickMom]

me too!

I have 2 white silkies that are about 10 weeks old.
I would like to think I have a pair.
If we try to catch the 5 and 6 week old babies, one of the silkies will lower his head and spread his wings and come toward our hand.
He also allows all the others to eat first too.

His comb is dark while the other silkies comb is much lighter.

 

[lurky]

I have been going through this for 5 months tomorrow with mine. I could not see any signs until 4-1/2 months when the 'streamers' began to sprout and the 3 i believe are the boys, began to get noticably bigger than the one girl very quickly. They do seem to stand more upright than the girls. I think the ones that mind their own business and peck out the ground are going to be girls. (my how we differ, LOL)
I think there will always be a few that fall in the middle of the two characters. I have one of my suspected boys that acts like a girl....but has streamers......its size is bigger than the girl, but smaller than the boys. But the only sign i see now that was there that early on would be the stance. If you walk straight at them all.......My boys will stand up and take notice and the girl will not pay attention. I hope that might help a little.......i am no expert, but i am going through it right now too so i thought i would share with you what i have noticed. Good luck.

 

[KingsCalls]

Good luck...! One I thought was a roo, has layed 4 eggs in the past 5 days! (LOL)

 

[bantymum]

well, A wise old silkie breeder told me that he throws a frisbee into the run so it skims above them but doesnt hit them of course!!!
The girls run to mum for cover and the boys stand their ground to check it out.
Well worth a try!!!
My little roos are the ones that 1) fight with each other, 2) grow longer tail feathers quickly, 3) are more curious and walk further away from mumma!

 

[arlee453]

Ah ha - now I know why it took a couple days to get some responses...it's basically impossible to know for SURE until someone crows or lays an egg!

Thanks all - at least that means I get to keep them all a little longer until we figure out who crows!

 

[bantymum]

Did you try the frisbee trick??? it works!!if you havent got a frisbee try a hat!

 

[jenichick]

I would probably knock one in the head ha ha, guess I'll have to wait and see who crows or lays and egg..

 

[seminolewind]

If you open their mouth and look real close, on the sides of the tongue in the males with be teeth.