sexing silkies

[Sourdough1938]

At what age can you begin to tell which sex the chicks are and how to tell?

 

[lightchick]

It's hard to tell.
Roosters should have...
Bigger comb and wattles, spikier crest and tail, larger in size.

Hens should have....
Small comb and wattles, puffier crest and tail, smaller size.

If their only a day old you can vent sex them.

 

[Sourdough1938]

Thanks, they are 10 weeks old now and they all got out and were enjoying their freedom! It is much easier to see how they react to each other. I have 7 left of the original 8. A racoon got in and carried one off last week. I am grateful he only took one but that does not mean I am going to let him get off free. All beware!
Getting back to the sexing thing, three roosters gave themselves away by trying to push each other around, Running at each other and bumping their chest with their heads held up as high as the could get them. (I kind of behaved like that when I was a kid also.) A buff that I thought was a hen behaved that way plus 2 whites. A sort of black one is definately a hen and everyone picks on her. That leaves 3 more whites that haven't made up their minds yet or at least are not telling if they have. (at least one more should be a hen, hopefully all three). The one that got ate was my only partridge colored.
Thanks again, Sourdough

 

[lightchick]

I have a partridge Silkie! She's 3 almost 4 weeks old today!

She's such a sweetie pie!

 

[sandiTX]

I have a partridge Silkie! She's 3 almost 4 weeks old today!

She's such a sweetie pie!

oh what a cutie, love my silkies