Pullet or Roo Im desperate for opinion

[FunnyFrizzles]

I am selling several today and Im trying to figure out what this one is. Ive never seen thie color silkie.

Because that's a Silkie cross and not a pure Silkie.. as noted by the hard feathers..

Age is always required to give an more accurate gender assessment.

Cute bird. I hope you're enjoying BYC!

So its a silkie frizzle and a regular white silkie mixed. Its about 5 weeks old and has big silver fluff under the bigger feathers and the the legs and feet. I wanted to keep if its a hen but I fear I may be kicked off the plantation if I have another rooster. Ive raised all mine from chicks and was told this is the prairie color. All my silkie frizzles and silkies have the blue ears and 5 toes. I probably had 15 born like this.

 

[The Moonshiner]

WTH is the "prairie" color?
Never heard of it.

 

[lilmillefleur]

So its a silkie frizzle and a regular white silkie mixed. Its about 5 weeks old and has big silver fluff under the bigger feathers and the the legs and feet. I wanted to keep if its a hen but I fear I may be kicked off the plantation if I have another rooster. Ive raised all mine from chicks and was told this is the prairie color. All my silkie frizzles and silkies have the blue ears and 5 toes. I probably had 15 born like this.

Are you thinking of 'partridge' instead of prairie perhaps?
That's what most people call that patterning.
And it does look like a female to me.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

5 weeks is too early to tell with Silkies, honestly. 9 weeks is typically the earliest you can be more or less certain. That said, I don't see anything at the moment that suggests male. What's their behavior like? Do they stand with their back parallel to the ground or more upright?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So its a silkie frizzle and a regular white silkie mixed. Its about 5 weeks old and has big silver fluff

What you're calling silver is more like grey and actually called blue in chickens.

Silver is white in appearance in chickens like the white centers of silver laced anything.

White *can* be (but not always) hiding other colors underneath that *may* pop out in future offspring.

5 toes is dominant. Blue ears.. is essentially white lobes covering the dark skin.. which melanistic (dark skin) is also dominant.. meaning it will pass to offspring even with only one copy.

Frizzle is often (not always) started/crossed in from frizzled Cochin.. the straight comb of Cochin should be covered by the walnut comb gene modifiers.. understanding that MY genetic knowledge/experience is limited and some others here, even on this thread right now, have a much superior understanding and will hopefully/likely correct any misinformation I've conveyed. TIA!

With my own line of Silkies I was able to tell SOME cockerel genders within the first day of hatching by behavior alone.. but for the most part 5 weeks is a TAD early for determining gender (especially without others for direct comparison) and later blooming is ENTIRELY possible still in this breed. I had one cockerel "crow" as early as 3 weeks.. just for a fun share! I think it was a learned behavior from the dogs howling.

Others may be correct about them meaning partridge. I like the term "prairie colored"! Though I haven't herd it used before. It sounds like a pleasant way of saying barnyard/farmyard cross.

Don't get kicked off the plantation if it does grow into a cockerel.. They dress JUST fine for the table and also make fantastic eats same as any other chicken just a little smaller... noodle soup, pot pie, dumplings. etc. Reputed for their "healing" qualities in other countries.

Besides who wants to buy suspected cockerels being sold as straight run?? They could still "buy" it later, I think you might be jumping the gun a little.

I gave away a frizzled Silkie juvenile once.. it looked female but acted nasty.. striking out at things and dominating others.. it was a pullet. So behavior can be an indicator but is NOT always a good one.

Best wishes on your desired outcome!

WTH is the "prairie" color?
Never heard of it.

Oh gee, I just tried to smash the ant crawling around on my screen.

Looking back, it's going pretty fast but my brain was fooled and quickly reacted before I could process the details.

 

[Painted Calls]

Oh gee, I just tried to smash the ant crawling around on my screen.

Looking back, it's going pretty fast but my brain was fooled and quickly reacted before I could process the details.

We all have. We feel you.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

We all have. We feel you.

Not me. I tried to lick it. Unfortunately it got away.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Not me. I tried to lick it. Unfortunately it got away.