Sexing your Silkies (PICTURES AND TIPS - Updated July-5-12)

[Faraday40]

I know it is way to soon to tell if my silkie is a roo or a hen. But any guesses?! View attachment 1079951

The comb looks wide, so it may have a good chance of being male. Too early to know for sure & I'm not an expert.

 

[ChcknNurse]

I hatched a partridge showgirl about 8 weeks ago. It looked like there were streamers at hatched. Do you all think these early streamers are reliable markers? I can't think of this chick as anything but a rooster.

 

[Michelle Guynn]

Probably to young but take a look and tell me what you think. Bearded unbearded? Pullet or roo.

 

[ChcknNurse]

So I was asking about streamers I saw on my brand newly hatched showgirl & if this could be relied on... well this chick is about 8 weeks old. I just pulled him out and I see a thickening comb. Once again, everything is making me think rooster .

My beautiful white silkie I think is a rooster and I really would like a hen .

I think people on here have misunderstood some of the information. You can't expect a new chick to display the behaviors of a rooster. It will take many weeks before that will be evident. It's a process. It is why I didn't expect a few sparse streamers to mean the same on a new chick, as it would on an adult.

I recall our first rooster took some weeks to learn to protect his flock... and he was our first. He was also a Golden Seabright in a sea of Large Fowl (gave his life in a fight with a hawk).

 

[NW Chickadee]

Hi all! I've got 5 precious Silkie chicks. 2 are my favorites thus far. They're exactly 16 days old and although I've read (and read, and read, and read some more!!) on sexing these little ones and how it's next to impossible at this age, I've also read about behaviors and physical traits, and it seems there's a definite difference between these 2 that I've posted a photo of; the smaller one sits lower to the ground but has always been smaller in general. It also seems to run to the larger one for refuge from another "lower sitting", but larger chick that seems to pick on it.

Also, although I understand that both pullets & cockrels have breasts, my 2 that stand taller (like the larger one in this photo) have much smaller, if any breasts that can be felt - Is that any indication of sex? Any Silkie experts out there wanna take a guess on gender of these babies? it. I've got 3 of the lower sitting chicks w/the fatty breasts and 2 that stand tall without the fatty breasts - Just curious if that's any indication of gender?

(In the photo from the rear you can see that the little one had a case of "pasty butt" that's cleared of nicely with the help of y'all, thank you!))

 

[SRC87]

Roo or pullet?!

 

[Faraday40]

Hi all! I've got 5 precious Silkie chicks. 2 are my favorites thus far. They're exactly 16 days old and although I've read (and read, and read, and read some more!!) on sexing these little ones and how it's next to impossible at this age, I've also read about behaviors and physical traits, and it seems there's a definite difference between these 2 that I've posted a photo of; the smaller one sits lower to the ground but has always been smaller in general. It also seems to run to the larger one for refuge from another "lower sitting", but larger chick that seems to pick on it.View attachment 1115063View attachment 1115064View attachment 1115065

Also, although I understand that both pullets & cockrels have breasts, my 2 that stand taller (like the larger one in this photo) have much smaller, if any breasts that can be felt - Is that any indication of sex? Any Silkie experts out there wanna take a guess on gender of these babies? it. I've got 3 of the lower sitting chicks w/the fatty breasts and 2 that stand tall without the fatty breasts - Just curious if that's any indication of gender?

(In the photo from the rear you can see that the little one had a case of "pasty butt" that's cleared of nicely with the help of y'all, thank you!))

Interesting observations. I agree that they seem to look like a little married couple. They could just be brooder buddies, but I hope you're right.

 

[Faraday40]

Silkies are tough to sex, but sometimes sexing chicks is easy. I had a gut feeling with these two at hatch...
hatch day (male on right)


5 days (male on left in both pics) I love the female's pose in 2nd pic)



My suspicions were being confirmed.
2.5 wk old male / female


4 wks


8wks



Hang in there. Eventually all chickens will show their gender.

 

[NW Chickadee]

Silkies are tough to sex, but sometimes sexing chicks is easy. I had a gut feeling with these two at hatch...
hatch day (male on right)
View attachment 1121110

5 days (male on left in both pics) I love the female's pose in 2nd pic)
View attachment 1121114 View attachment 1121120


My suspicions were being confirmed.
2.5 wk old male / female
View attachment 1121116 View attachment 1121117

4 wks
View attachment 1121119

8wks
View attachment 1121118


Hang in there. Eventually all chickens will show their gender.

Thank you so much! I'll keep ya posted! They're now 4 wks old and wow, how they've grown (and changed). Do you know if the cockrels tend to have a slightly lower-sounding chirp/peep? I've noticed that 2 of my larger chicks have much lower voices (haha ) than my others.

 

[NW Chickadee]

Silkies are tough to sex, but sometimes sexing chicks is easy. I had a gut feeling with these two at hatch...
hatch day (male on right)
View attachment 1121110

5 days (male on left in both pics) I love the female's pose in 2nd pic)
View attachment 1121114 View attachment 1121120


My suspicions were being confirmed.
2.5 wk old male / female
View attachment 1121116 View attachment 1121117

4 wks
View attachment 1121119

8wks
View attachment 1121118


Hang in there. Eventually all chickens will show their gender.

Darling babies by the way! I have 5 chicks (started with 12 and gave 7 to family and friends). I'm terrified that I'll have 5 Roos! Heck, why not - I have 4 teenage boys!