Say it isn't so! Only 1 pullet??!

[Shanna-stephens]

18 week old silkies.. I was so hoping to have a few pullets and the ones I thought were definite pullets suddenly seem to be cockerels. Please give me your best guess because I need to thin out my flock if I truly have this many roosters...

splash... single comb... (hatchery)

buff

Black

The black one is the only one I am fairly convinced is a pullet now. I thought all three were last week. hoping to find out for sure so I can stop pretending. Thanks in advance

 

[Gray Farms]

Black is a pullet. Buff is likely a cockerel. Splash I'm on the fence on, I would expect more comb growth by this age if it were a cockerel.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I'm not well versed in silkies, but at this age they should be getting ready to start laying. I think that's the redness you are seeing. Feel their pelvic points, the two pointy parts above their vent. If they're less then a finger width they aren't close... the furthest they get is 3-4 finger widths (depending on your fingers) If check periodically, you'll know who's closest to lay.


ETA... and listen to @Gray Farms

 

[Shanna-stephens]

Black is a pullet. Buff is likely a cockerel. Splash I'm on the fence on, I would expect more comb growth by this age if it were a cockerel.

Thank you... the splash had a really rough start. Pasty butt as a chick and then cocci at about 10 weeks I honestly expected it to die. I have put lots of effort into keeping it alive so I am hoping it will be a pullet. it just started getting those streamers the lsst week or so. It's never had a lot of fluff on its head but I was hoping it was because it was sickly as a chick. Do pullets ever have streamers on their heads?

 

[Shanna-stephens]

I'm not well versed in silkies, but at this age they should be getting ready to start laying. I think that's the redness you are seeing. Feel their pelvic points, the two pointy parts above their vent. If they're less then a finger width they aren't close... the furthest they get is 3-4 finger widths (depending on your fingers) If check periodically, you'll know who's closest to lay.


ETA... and listen to @Gray Farms

Thank you for the tip!! If only you could imagine me running around the yard chasing full grown hens, and pullets to compare it would give you a laugh. Lol

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

1st pic looks to be a pullet. 2nd pic could be a cockerel although there is no wattle growth so it could be a pullet. 3rd pic is a pullet.

 

[Shanna-stephens]

1st pic looks to be a pullet. 2nd pic could be a cockerel although there is no wattle growth so it could be a pullet. 3rd pic is a pullet.

Thank you... ! I would be thrilled if atleast two were pullets.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think they are all girls. Even though the crests look more like a male on some of them, all the tails/saddle say female.

 

[Alexandra33]

Personally, I think they're all pullets at this point.

My Silkies from this year weren't the best quality....they remind me much of yours, and most are female.

~Alex

 

[Shanna-stephens]

I think they are all girls. Even though the crests look more like a male on some of them, all the tails/saddle say female.

Oh yay! I hope you're right! I will definitely hold onto them a bit longer. Thank you