silkie sexing

[kbh82310]

They both look black on my screen! Can't tell very well with these pictures. They both look like they have small combs so I would be leaning towards pullets at this stage. However some silkies are later bloomers than others. One of them has a single comb, this is not desirable in this breed.

If they are sup to have walnut combs how did they get the single combs? 2 of my silkies has a single comb which doesn't bother me they are just pets anyway but I was curious. On one of mine it looks like he has 3 rows of combs.

And that's why it's really harder for me to tell the sex of black silkies from a picture. I can't really see anything but black with these guys.

 

[jessishatley]

I've got a 20 wk rooster who still hasn't started crowing. What's the latest age your roo has crowed?

I know its definitely aroo bc he has long pin feathers on his head and his comb is bump y and starting to turn red.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I had one that held off till he was 6 months. But he was in with a dominant roo.

 

[ChickNanny13]

What is your guess, pullet or cockerel? It's 4wks & LOVES to be carried...Spoiled.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Here are some chicks that my DS(8) is raising for 4-H; we will post again once they are older for help telling who is who

they are 3 weeks old

 

[kbh82310]

Here are some chicks that my DS(8) is raising for 4-H; we will post again once they are older for help telling who is who

they are 3 weeks old

They are cute, I have 3 week olds also. Love your cocker btw, I've owned them for over 16 years.

What is your guess, pullet or cockerel? It's 4wks & LOVES to be carried...Spoiled.

He is way to young to tell. Take pics again in 3-4 weeks

 

[Hens and Roos]

They are cute, I have 3 week olds also. Love your cocker btw, I've owned them for over 16 years.
He is way to young to tell. Take pics again in 3-4 weeks

thanks, the cocker has been with us 2 years now- she was a rescue dog, she loves to watch the chicks in the incubator but we have to keep her away from them- she has a strong prey drive.

 

[SuburbSpurs]

Here is another pic of the one I think may be a roo. What do you guys think?

 

[Tricoglossus]

What is your guess, pullet or cockerel? It's 4wks & LOVES to be carried...Spoiled.

Can't tell it's too young. Try again at 9 weeks

 

[Tricoglossus]

If they are sup to have walnut combs how did they get the single combs? 2 of my silkies has a single comb which doesn't bother me they are just pets anyway but I was curious. On one of mine it looks like he has 3 rows of combs.

And that's why it's really harder for me to tell the sex of black silkies from a picture. I can't really see anything but black with these guys.

Single combs are recessive so both parents have to be carrying the recessive gene to produce offspring that have single combs. The parents may have had walnut combs as part of their phenotype, so the breeder/hatchery can't tell that the parents are carrying the recessive gene until the offspring hatch. It's common with hatchery birds as the hatcheries generally produce quantity, not quality. Single combed silkies will always pass down the single combed gene to their offspring so they should not be bred from. This is one of the problems of buying silkies (or any other breed for that matter) sight unseen from hatcheries as you are not able to choose birds that are true to type.