Silkie Hens with Large Combs?-Updated with Pic!

[CityChicker]

Calling all experienced Silkie breeders! LOL, we have a "hen" that we think might be a roo. Has anyone ever had a Silkie hen with a prominent comb? I have kept small numbers of Silkies for a number of years, but don't recall ever seeing a hen like this. Maybe some of you all that breed them on a regular basis will know better.

She is 5 months old now and has a comb about a quarter of an inch (editing to add- the comb is actually probably closer to a half inch). It is quite prominent, but there are no streemers yet. The funny thing is also that one of the hens in her run has just started laying and we are sure it is her. Whoever it is lays during the day outside the coop. This bird is literally always where the egg is. I don't know if that means anything. Maybe Silkie roos will guard eggs? At any rate, if she is a hen, she has a comb at least as prominent as a roo.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Do you have any pictures so we can give you a guess?

 

[CityChicker]

Unfortunately, I don't. Our digital camera has not been working for weeks (a new one is on my Christmas list, LOL). The comb is very prominent though. If you can tell a Silkie's sex by the appearance of the comb, then this bird would definitely be a roo. It is easily as big, if not bigger, than the average Silkie roo. The bird doesn't have any streemers though and has never crowed either (FWIW).

 

[CityChicker]

Woo Hoo! I figured out how to do a pic with my new cell phone. Here goes....

He/She is only five months old. None of the others that came in the same group have any sign of a comb. The height of the comb in the pic is kind of deceptive too because I took the picture above him/her (in real life, it appears taller). Honestly, the bird's personality is rather "rooish" as well. It was sold to me as a hen though and he/she is always by the eggs that just started (no other bird is ever near the little nest). As I said, there are no streemers or crowing either.

 

[vtara16]

she might be a he. I had the same thing happen to me. Her/his comb just kept getting bigger, then one day he crowed!

 

[CityChicker]

Thank you. I just don't know what to think. The bird's comb has grown significantly in the last few weeks. I have had several Silkie hens, but have never been a Silkie "breeder" per se. None of my hens in the past have looked like this. The bird also is the most outgoing of the group- always at the front of the run strutting and trying to get out when we feed. He/She has become the definite ringleader of the group. If it weren't for the nest of eggs, I would say rooster. I have no idea if guarding a nest is normal Silkie roo behavior. My other roos have never been in the slightest bit concerned about the nests, certainly not during the day (although I know it is possible to have a protective roo).

Also- This bird is my poor DH's pet. I know he loves that bird and he is not at all a chicken person. I did mention to him though that I thought it might be a roo and his response was to laugh and say it looks like we are having Silkie Soup, so maybe I am projecting my feelings on to him, LOL.

 

[babymakes6]

It looks to me like a roo. Silkies are very difficult to sex until they are older. If it is only 5 months old now, I don't know how they could have sold you a "hen" when you got her. Also, 5 months is pretty early for a Silkie to start laying. It is a pretty bird, though! I have a black roo that is 5 months old, and I haven't heard him crow yet either!

 

[Chickenaddict]

definately a roo

I have seen my white silkie cockerel in the nest several times, I think i read somehwere on here people have seen them actually sitting on eggs while the hen is off the nest for a break. He is a cutie

 

[CityChicker]

Yeah, I know it is normally harder to tell until they are a little older. The eggs definitely look like my other Silkie eggs, although there are a couple other birds in that run (all the same age). The bird is one I got in a group of chicks from MPC/Meyer. I got them mostly for eggs at our house in town, so we don't have to drive to the farm every day and so we can use them as broodies for our bantam ducks.

I know other people have had pretty good sexing luck with MPC (although a few haven't). If this is a roo though, they barely got 50% right.

 

[CityChicker]

Oh, no, Chickenaddict! Say it isn't so! LOL... I thought I heard people say that about Silkie roos before. Oh well, Silkie Soup it is.