SILKIE SEXING QUESTION

[Lhynes1478]

I've heard you can sex PARTRIDGE (only) by looking at their wing feathers. Females have a barred pattern and males are just red or brown coloring. IS THIS TRUE?

I can post pictures if needed. Thanks!

 

[cavemanrich]

Only thing I do know is ..................... Sexing silkies is difficult. Usually need to wait until first egg, or first crow. I only had White Silkies in the past.
WISHING YOU BEST......

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If partridge silkies are able to be sexed like that that would be great.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Ive heard that you can do it that way, but haven't ever tried it. How old are yours? Silkies are harder to tell, but I don't believe you have to wait for a crow or an egg. I do believe you can't sex them as young as other chicks. But it all depends on the silkie. I recommend waiting until eight plus weeks, then post pictures.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I don't know that... but Silkies aren't that hard to sex in my experience, once you become familiar with the birds. NO WAY do you have to wait until it crows or lays an egg. (and some hens do crow) While I may not be able to sex them by looks before to early, by the time they reach 14 weeks is usually VERY obvious.

How old is your partridge? To early and their adult colors won't be coming in yet.

 

[Lhynes1478]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I don't know that... but Silkies aren't that hard to sex in my experience, once you become familiar with the birds. NO WAY do you have to wait until it crows or lays an egg. (and some hens do crow) While I may not be able to sex them by looks before to early, by the time they reach 14 weeks is usually VERY obvious.

How old is your partridge? To early and their adult colors won't be coming in yet.

thank you! she/he is about 10wks old right now. Very barred on feathers. I talked to someone who breeds partridges and she said, " Ok, how it works is partridge birds have penciling patterning genes. When the males begin to mature the testosterone interferes with those patterning genes causing a more splotchy pattern instead of penciling. Since it’s testosterone that does it, young chicks will all look the same and it’s as they begin to mature that you can tell male from female." and sent me pictures of wings. Were still on the fence with my silkie though because its still young.

 

[Lhynes1478]

Ive heard that you can do it that way, but haven't ever tried it. How old are yours? Silkies are harder to tell, but I don't believe you have to wait for a crow or an egg. I do believe you can't sex them as young as other chicks. But it all depends on the silkie. I recommend waiting until eight plus weeks, then post pictures.

I agree. I've caught the two i thought were roosters, by the hair on their heads laying back all crazy, sparring with eachother non-stop. lol. theyre also the biggest. pretty sure theyll be roosters.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have 4 in the brooder right now... some who were identified as male by 3 days old, according to their behavior. They're not quite 3 weeks yet, but we can't wait to see the truth!

Raising chickens is fun. And I just love to play the breed/gender game. Post pics, let's see.

 

[drumstick diva]

Silkies are extremely difficult to sex before 4-5 mos. of age and some not till they crow or lay. They are full of surprises

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I have 4 in the brooder right now... some who were identified as male by 3 days old, according to their behavior. They're not quite 3 weeks yet, but we can't wait to see the truth!

Raising chickens is fun. And I just love to play the breed/gender game. Post pics, let's see.

You can't accurately sex chicks by behavior. I do hope you didn't get rid of them just because they acted rooish. They could be pullets.