Silkie experts - hen or roo?

[Njames1963]

Calling the silkie sexing experts!

I know these guys are notoriously hard to sex before reaching maturity, but I figured I'd try anyway!

6 or so weeks old

I have a feeling the partridge colored one is a roo.. but I'm hoping for hens!

 

[Debbie292d]

Your best guess is all you can do at that age.

I have raised and bred silkies for 8 years and can't figure them out until minimally 3 mos old but closer to 4 months or more to be positive.

Pretty chicks though!

 

[Njames1963]

Your best guess is all you can do at that age.

I have raised and bred silkies for 8 years and can't figure them out until minimally 3 mos old but more like 4 months.

I was reading a thread from a few years ago about some talented individuals here that could sex them early on. Figured I'd throw them out there and see if someone would be able to tell! The anxiety of not knowing is going to kill me but i NEEDED silkies in my life

 

[Debbie292d]

I was reading a thread from a few years ago about some talented individuals here that could sex them early on. Figured I'd throw them out there and see if someone would be able to tell! The anxiety of not knowing is going to kill me but i NEEDED silkies in my life

I believe in a lot of old wives' tales, but not those.

 

[Njames1963]

Just wanted to update: these both ended up being roos. I dna tested them.. then sent them back to their original home and swapped out for a couple older ones we *hope* are hens!

 

[Njames1963]

Just wanted to update: these both ended up being roos. I dna tested them.. then sent them back to their original home and swapped out for a couple older ones we *hope* are hens!

Since I'm here, does anyone want to hazard a guess about my new silkies? We looked through several chicks that were hatched this spring and compared. We looked mainly for small or non-existent combs and neater crests. Also compared to the adults for clues. I settled on these two. Hardly any combs, nice neat crests, didn't stand up straight and tall (like one of my last ones did). I would guess they are 3 months old at least, probably more like 4.

The only thing throwing me off is the partridge colored one has some longer pointier feathers coming out of the tail. Im going to be so disappointed if the only other partridge colored chick the breeder had is also a roo She did say I can keep coming back to switch out if I need to but I'd so rather not!

 

[mindy012]

Your best guess is all you can do at that age.

I have raised and bred silkies for 8 years and can't figure them out until minimally 3 mos old but closer to 4 months or more to be positive.

Pretty chicks though!

mine is 9 weeks. what do you think it is? I really wanted a girl but i’m thinking it’s a male. what do you think?

 

[Debbie292d]

mine is 9 weeks. what do you think it is? I really wanted a girl but i’m thinking it’s a male. what do you think?

Again, still too young to know definitively, but I would lean with male due to the wideness on its comb area. Usually girls won't get that big of an area. There's where a nice walnut comb may be growing.

 

[Debbie292d]

Since I'm here, does anyone want to hazard a guess about my new silkies? We looked through several chicks that were hatched this spring and compared. We looked mainly for small or non-existent combs and neater crests. Also compared to the adults for clues. I settled on these two. Hardly any combs, nice neat crests, didn't stand up straight and tall (like one of my last ones did). I would guess they are 3 months old at least, probably more like 4.

The only thing throwing me off is the partridge colored one has some longer pointier feathers coming out of the tail. Im going to be so disappointed if the only other partridge colored chick the breeder had is also a roo She did say I can keep coming back to switch out if I need to but I'd so rather not! View attachment 3882699View attachment 3882701View attachment 3882704View attachment 3882705View attachment 3882706View attachment 3882707View attachment 3882709View attachment 3882710View attachment 3882711View attachment 3882712View attachment 3882714View attachment 3882715View attachment 3882716

I think you got two pullets this time, no?

 

[mindy012]

Again, still too young to know definitively, but I would lean with male due to the wideness on its comb area. Usually girls won't get that big of an area. There's where a nice walnut comb may be growing.

so it turns out I did the math wrong this whole time and this silkie chick was born may 11 which makes it 11 weeks old. do you still think it could be a male? it has no wattles yet and a very tiny comb. it is a little aggressive with me and other chicks though but not so much.