Silkie Gender

[Durelle]

 

[Durelle]

The reason I suspect roosters is that I have 5 hens that are a year old. They did not do the sparring that these guys do. Also, I read males develop their wattles early and hens will not until close to laying age. 7 of them have wattles and 3 had them at 7 weeks. One started crowing at 6 weeks. 6 are tall and walk tall with huge feathered feet. I have 2 that are smaller and only one with no sign of wattles. The hatchery said that some look like hens but did not commit to which ones. I guess I will wait. I definitely don't want to give away hens, especially if she is going to sell them for $35 or more since they are older.

 

[Durelle]

I'm not sure of your odds, but I suspect that person would be willing to take your hens also. I certainly would wait, and think it was correct choice on your part to decline the offer.
Silkies are difficult to sex, until they lay eggs, or crow.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you.

 

[Durelle]

 

[Durelle]

 

[Vickischics]

Yup, definently too young to tell on those little "Fuzzy Butts"!.
Too cute.
Just keep all of them for now unless you have to downsize your flock.
They have a lot of growing to do before deciding.

 

[Mylied]

View attachment 2262456

Those 2 you circled in the first pic are cockerels. Silkie females develop really slow. I shouldn't have said red. It's more a purple or mulberry color on silkies. If they are developing noticeable combs, like it's bumping up pretty big, probably cockerels. That would stink to get 6 out of 8 cockerels. My last batch of 6 was a 50/50 mix and they were maybe 6 weeks old when I bought them. I picked the ones with no development and still ended up with half cockerels.

 

[Durelle]

Yup, definently too young to tell on those little "Fuzzy Butts"!.
Too cute.
Just keep all of them for now unless you have to downsize your flock.
They have a lot of growing to do before deciding.

Thank you so much. I will wait and update when I know❤

 

[Durelle]

Those 2 you circled in the first pic are cockerels. Silkie females develop really slow. I shouldn't have said red. It's more a purple or mulberry color on silkies. If they are developing noticeable combs, like it's bumping up pretty big, probably cockerels. That would stink to get 6 out of 8 cockerels. My last batch of 6 was a 50/50 mix and they were maybe 6 weeks old when I bought them. I picked the ones with no development and still ended up with half cockerels.

I guess that's the luck of the draw. Thank you so much for your help. The black one is definitely a cockerel. He started crowing at 6 weeks but he also mimicked my hen's egg song at that age too. Little stinker. I think he's a keeper. I just don't need 6.

 

[Durelle]

View attachment 2262447

This guy started crowing this morning. So I'm pretty sure of 3 that are roosters. 5 have developed combs and 2 more are developing combs. One little girl has no wattles or combs. So, I'm pretty sure that she is a she. 2 are crowing and a third definitely appears to be a rooster.