Silkie comb

[embkm]

I started with 2 silkie chicks, but one got squished by the meaties. I am really hoping the remaining silkie is a pullet and will be a good broody.

I've read that it is really hard to tell the sex of a silkie when they are young so I haven't really been looking for any signs. But I noticed yesterday that I can see a comb on it now. It's not really big, but it is noticable. It is a blackish color, not red at all.

It is 13.5 weeks old... is that too early for a pullet comb? Or do I have to give up my broody silkie idea and tell my girls that "Fluffy" is a boy?

 

[Hotttmommi]

i have the same question. mine has very lil to no comb more or less just a bald spot right in front of the top knot. and beautiful blue ears it is about 13 weeks also

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hotttmommi, that is a gorgeous pullet. She looks very sweet.

embkm, can you post a picture? At 13 weeks you should be able to tell if it's a pullet or cockerel.

 

[Hotttmommi]

Thank you so much. That is what I was hoping. And yes she is very sweet. Guess Ill have to change her name now. We have been calling her Michael Jackson M.J. for short. Thanks for the help

 

[embkm]

I can't post a pic because I am at work. I don't have internet at home.

But my silkie looks alot like Hotttmommis, except it is buff. It's comb might be a teeny bit bigger, actually my whole chick looks to be bigger (comparing to size of the hands).

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

embkm, more telling than the size of the comb is appearance of wattles at an early age - easier to see on a beardless silkie. Also, the males will have really big legs and feet.

i would think at 13 weeks, if it were a roo, it would be crowing by now. i have some 11 week old silkies and two of them have been crowing for the past month.

With my very first silkies, i almost gave away a gorgeous buff. It was bigger than the rest, had larger legs and feet, and a prominent comb. Turned out to be a gorgeous pullet, one of my prettiest. So, always best to wait until it crows or lays an egg. Although it is great fun guessing!

 

[embkm]

Thanks Colleen.

I didn't notice any wattles, but I will definitely be looking at them all closely today when I transfer them from the grow-out coop to their permanant coop. This silkie is a lot bigger than the one that got squashed, and bigger than my BR bantie, but smaller than my standard sized EE's.

I have heard baby crows, but I know that I have an EE roo and an OEGB roo in the same pen. Oh well.... it's sweet so I'm keeping it. Hubby wasn't happy when I told him that if she is a he, that just means I have to get more silkies to get him some girlfriends!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Everyone always needs more silkies!