silkie sexing

[ashtree]

Looks like a roo to me.

X2

 

[aatx]

Okay, I think I have prepared myself for the bad news.

Roo or Hen? Almost 26 weeks old. No crowing. Hatchery stock. Comb just started showing in the last week or two. I know there can be roos with small combs and hens with large combs and that it isn't a certain confirmation, but it scares me, even though it didn't start developing until recently. Oh, and I do trim around their eyes sometimes, so crest shape is probably altered.

I have 4 silkies and one started crowing at 11 weeks. The confirmed roo has a large comb and wattles that started developing early, evident streamers, long thin hackles, and is almost twice the size of the other three, including this one.

This black one I had to really baby as a chick, so I am just certain due to my luck, it will turn out to be a boy.

 

[ashtree]

Okay, I think I have prepared myself for the bad news. Roo or Hen? Almost 26 weeks old. No crowing. Hatchery stock. Comb just started showing in the last week or two. I know there can be roos with small combs and hens with large combs and that it isn't a certain confirmation, but it scares me, even though it didn't start developing until recently. Oh, and I do trim around their eyes sometimes, so crest shape is probably altered. I have 4 silkies and one started crowing at 11 weeks. The confirmed roo has a large comb and wattles that started developing early, evident streamers, long thin hackles, and is almost twice the size of the other three, including this one. This black one I had to really baby as a chick, so I am just certain due to my luck, it will turn out to be a boy.

I think you have a pullet

 

[aatx]

I think you have a pullet

Thank you. I really hope so. No roo behavior, but I just won't be able to relax until they lay eggs, I guess.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I think you have a pullet

x2

 

[aatx]

x2

Thank you!

 

[FoxholeFarm]

Quote: x3

I see no streamers, and the shape is very pullety. For hatchery stock, this is actually a rather good looking bird. Lucky you!

 

[aatx]

x3

I see no streamers, and the shape is very pullety. For hatchery stock, this is actually a rather good looking bird. Lucky you!

Thank you. That's nice to hear. The roosters comb and wattle are too red and one white silkie has 6 toes on one foot, but I love them just the same.

When this black silkie was young, it had issues with constipation. Multiple times I day I would do sort of a chick enema, do belly massages, and I would give her boiled egg by herself to make sure she was getting enough nourishment. It took a few weeks but the need to assist got less and less. So, I really have a lot of time invested in her. There is nothing preventing me from having multiple roosters legally, but I don't want fights or the hens to be overworked. I gave away 6 roosters at 11 weeks old because I did not see any need in having any and it was the next morning that one of the silkies crowed. And I said that as long as he was the only rooster, he could stay. He was a bit of a jerk at first as his hormones kicked in and he figured out what was going on, but he's turned into a pretty good rooster.

I've even avoided naming the other three silkies just because it's so much harder to give something away when it has a name. Maybe it's time they joined the rooster and the other 7 chickens in having a name.

I just love their fluffy little hineys sticking up in the air when they eat. Really evident on the white sikie in the far right in this photo.

 

[FoxholeFarm]

Quote: Your chickens look like they have a really lovely pasture! If your other roo is a silkie, you should be in the clear having two of them. They are very docile and don't tend to posture or fight like other breeds do.

 

[aatx]

Your chickens look like they have a really lovely pasture! If your other roo is a silkie, you should be in the clear having two of them. They are very docile and don't tend to posture or fight like other breeds do.

Thank you. I can't let them free range, but they do have a 20' x 60' run, completely covered with netting to protect from above.

Yes, the current rooster is a silkie named Mango. Very docile so far aside from some feathers pulled out early on as he was trying to figure out the mating game. Never any aggression towards people.