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

[AlleysChicks]

Thanks.

I was trying to hurry and type it before I forgot lol I knew it started with a S so I was saying every word I could think of I was in the middle of googling it when it hit me.

 

[Michelle Guynn]

I've got these
View attachment 1142994 View attachment 1142993 View attachment 1142995

That's a roo.

 

[AlleysChicks]

These are 12 weeks old. I know the gender of the standards. They just like to photobomb lol
I know I have 2 red males, and 2 black males, and a Buff male for sure. Also a few might be damp in the face from drinking.

^this one has been tricking me. I’m not sure on color either. It’s dark but not black.

^female?

^ slight puff comb but nothing like the confirmed males. Also same bird in 1st pic.

I have 2 this color that are very similar in comb size. The one just has a slight puffy comb.

 

[Faraday40]

I've got these
View attachment 1142994 View attachment 1142993 View attachment 1142995

That comb looks pretty fat, and it's also standing more upright in the other pic. The crest looks girlish, but if you take in account the one crow attempt, I'd have to guess male. I always keep mine until I'm absolutely sure of the gender. There have been a few times that my early guesses were wrong.

 

[Faraday40]

@AlleysChicks
My female splash looked like yours.
From 6-10 weeks I thought it was male.


Around 11 weeks it began to look more feminine.

This is at 5 mo & she still looks female to me.



The gender of your blacks is very obvious. Wish all silkies were that easy.
This one may be a blue. I'm leaning toward male.... but again I could be wrong.

Another trick that may help is looking at their shoulder color. Often males will have a darker shade on their wings while females will be uniform.

 

[BrahmaMom1797]

That comb looks pretty fat, and it's also standing more upright in the other pic. The crest looks girlish, but if you take in account the one crow attempt, I'd have to guess male. I always keep mine until I'm absolutely sure of the gender. There have been a few times that my early guesses were wrong.

We'll be keeping the baby till we truely know, it'll just be sad again if it turns out to be a boy. I can't keep the boys

 

[AlleysChicks]

@AlleysChicks
My female splash looked like yours.
From 6-10 weeks I thought it was male.

View attachment 1143395 View attachment 1143396 View attachment 1143397 View attachment 1143400 View attachment 1143402
Around 11 weeks it began to look more feminine.
View attachment 1143403 View attachment 1143404
This is at 5 mo & she still looks female to me.
View attachment 1143410 View attachment 1143411


The gender of your blacks is very obvious. Wish all silkies were that easy.
This one may be a blue. I'm leaning toward male.... but again I could be wrong.

Another trick that may help is looking at their shoulder color. Often males will have a darker shade on their wings while females will be uniform.

Both splashes are female then. I hope they look like yours because she’s beautiful!

I’ve lucked out with being able to tell the males early on...mostly. The 2 red and 2 blacks I knew at 4 weeks. But since it’s my first time with silkies I wasn’t 100% sure on the others.

That blueish one looks like that all over as far as color goes. I’ve been thinking male too but since the comb is still small compared to the blacks and reds, I’ve been unsure. I’ll try to get another pic when I get back home to show you what I mean about the color.

 

[SRC87]

What about this fluff ball??

 

[AlleysChicks]

How old? Looks like streamers coming in

 

[SRC87]

How old? Looks like streamers coming in

Almost 5 months but doesn't act like my other roo at all so I'm confused too with no comb on it!