Silkie Sexing Project 2.0

[Krugerrand]

Keep those silkie skills sharp. Again, this one is just a few days younger than the official group.

 

[LynnaePB]

Keep those silkie skills sharp. Again, this one is just a few days younger than the official group.

I'm guessing cockerel with this little one.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Keep those silkie skills sharp. Again, this one is just a few days younger than the official group.

Guessing cockerel too!

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Keep those silkie skills sharp. Again, this one is just a few days younger than the official group.

Is that a single comb? Silkies with single combs are extra tricky, if you can believe it. Both the males and females get wattles that would make them seem male compared to Silkies with the correct comb type.

AAAAAaaaaah I'm gonna say pullet. They've fooled me before, lol.

 

[Krugerrand]

Is that a single comb? Silkies with single combs are extra tricky, if you can believe it. Both the males and females get wattles that would make them seem male compared to Silkies with the correct comb type.

AAAAAaaaaah I'm gonna say pullet. They've fooled me before, lol.

I'm anxiously waiting to see how these streamer feathers show up in your males so I know what to watch out for.

1: Both the male and female Silkie boast the fluffy crown of feathers on their head and this can be used in two ways to sex the birds.

When Silkies are young this crest looks very similar across the sexes but about 7 weeks of age the male will start to develop streamer feathers. These are single feathers that extend beyond the fluffy crest. The female will keep her neat rounded crest into adulthood.

https://silkie.org/sexing-silkie-chickens.html

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I'm anxiously waiting to see how these streamer feathers show up in your males so I know what to watch out for.

Yeah, that can be useful, but I've had some pullets with real scruffy crests. However, they were broiler Silkies so perhaps with these regular Silkies I'll be able to spot actual streamers.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Yeah, that can be useful, but I've had some pullets with real scruffy crests. However, they were broiler Silkies so perhaps with these regular Silkies I'll be able to spot actual streamers.

Same. My first silkie is most definitely not show-quality and she had all the makings of a roo. Streamers (still has 'em) + really wide/early comb.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Same. My first silkie is most definitely not show-quality and she had all the makings of a roo. Streamers (still has 'em) + really wide/early comb.

This was about 2.5 weeks

 

[Krugerrand]

Yeah, that can be useful, but I've had some pullets with real scruffy crests. However, they were broiler Silkies so perhaps with these regular Silkies I'll be able to spot actual streamers.

I had never heard of 'broiler Silkies!' I had read about them used in meat production ... but never heard/thought of a separate breed/type for them.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I had never heard of 'broiler Silkies!' I had read about them used in meat production ... but never heard/thought of a separate breed/type for them.

Well, they weren't supposed to be broiler Silkies, but that's what they sent me :/. I ended up having to process a few of the males because they were too mean to be rehomed. A few hatcheries are working on them here since there is a growing demand for their meat and we don't have the standard size Silkie in the US.