Silkie gender

[LyndsayJade]

Hi all! I have two silkie or silkie mixes. They are 4.5 months old, neither have crowed yet and I'm trying to figure out if I have hens or rooster. I think Alaska is a roo, but I think Dolly may be a hen? The hatchery i got them from said they think hens. What do y'all think?

 

[JedJackson]

Both look like males to me. Odd that they haven't crowed, though. I guess watch for eggs and continue to listen for crowing.

 

[2ndTink]

Likewise, they both look like cockerels to me, but hatchery ones can look male due to the wattle and comb size. I had one I was sure was a cockerel until I caught her in the nesting box laying an egg

 

[Cloverr39]

I think both are males too.

 

[Pigeony]

I also agree both are males

 

[LyndsayJade]

Both look like males to me. Odd that they haven't crowed, though. I guess watch for eggs and continue to listen for crowing.

I was afraid of that! Lol My hen to rooster ratio is way off!

 

[JedJackson]

It can happen real fast, can't it?

 

[LyndsayJade]

It can happen real fast, can't it?

It sure can! Lol I think this is how folks end up with 50 chickens!

 

[2ndTink]

It sure can! Lol I think this is how folks end up with 50 chickens!

So true! I keep hatching cockerels, I could use a few more pullets but at the rario I'm having this year I just don't have the room to hatch enough to get 5 more pullets

 

[LyndsayJade]

So true! I keep hatching cockerels, I could use a few more pullets but at the rario I'm having this year I just don't have the room to hatch enough to get 5 more pullets

I feel that! I started out with 10, and I was sure I had all pullets and one roo....turned out I had 5 roos and the two unidentified silkies, so I got five more juvenile pullets, lost 4 to predators. I reinforced the coop, and just got 4 more juvenile pullets, but I'm still off and I can't bring myself to get rid of any of my roos! Especially since they all get along and they have been nice to me. Lol