Sex of silkie chicks.

[AAJ]

I have a broody hen about to hatch some eggs Tuesday and I would like to know how to determine the sex of the chicks that she hatches. I have been told that is hard to tell the sex of silkies until they get older. Please help.

 

[chiqita]

Ya, you can usually sex silkies when they crow or lay an egg. You can try and look at hackle feathers or combs before that, but I cant do it yet . Either way, they are usually older before you can do any of it.

 

[mstricer]

Good luck. I have a 17 week old that I still don't know. No egg and No crowing.

 

[CitySilkies88]

Yes Silkies are extremely hard to sex. Even the most seasoned Silkie owners I have met did not feel comfortable selling me chicks with the gurantee that they would be female. Because it's just really hard to know for sure. Thats why I went with nearly year old Pullets because they were laying eggs and I could clearly visually see the difference between roosters and hens. And roosters are a big no no in the city.

I also had a friend with a Silkie that she was positive was maturing pullet, until HE started to crow one day.

 

[Blue EE]

You can try dropping a sewing needle on a 2 foot silk thread in front of the egg before it hatches while holding the other end. If the needle swings back and forth its a rooster and if it spins in a circle its a hen. It only works for true believers. Must use quality silkie thread.

 

[LilMissChz]

ROFLOL!!!

Good one! I'll have to try to remember that. That pretty much sums it up for me!

You can try dropping a sewing needle on a 2 foot silk thread in front of the egg before it hatches while holding the other end. If the needle swings back and forth its a rooster and if it spins in a circle its a hen. It only works for true believers. Must use quality silkie thread.