silkie sexing

[Caitlin_VT]

Is it possible for a young male silkie to not crow if there are many more dominant roosters crowing around

I have that happen regularly. One cockerel is crowing, but the other 3 (I think!) have not tried.

 

[Chickenwolf]

Thank you
Caitlin-VT

 

[dominiquePL]

Ok. Uploading is back on so i can show my almost 8 week chick. This is the only chick im having problems with.

With another boy:

 

[Annalog]

Three months ago I received a box of hatchery chicks that I split with another person. Of the chicks I kept, four were white Silkies. I am hoping that at least one is a pullet as I would like to have at least one reliable broody hen. I have not been able to get good photos of the Silkies as all four are very skittish around us. A couple days ago we separated them from the other chicks as one of the ordered pullets turned out to be a cockerel and he has recently become too rough with the other chicks, especially the Silkies.

Since they were just a few days old, one was smaller than the other three and acted like a pullet. However, she and one of the larger ones were the two most curious and adventurous.

Of the three larger ones, one has a tiny comb but the comb has not changed since it was a week old. Another of the larger ones has a pinkish spot in the middle of its flat comb area. That one has some tiny wattles but those signs have not changed in weeks. None of the other three chicks seem to have wattles. One of the three larger chicks has fully feathered feet and a beard. It just might look bigger as it has such fluffy feathers.

All four have round crests and I see no streamers in the crests. All four have some tail feathers that look a bit like the wing feathers. Two have tail feathers that nearly look like regular feathers. (I suspect that this is because they are hatchery chicks (Ideal Poultry)). All have black skin, 5 toed feet, blueish beaks, and at least some feathers on their feet. They all get along with each other very well and they got along with the larger pullets.

Two occasionally have a more upright stance, the one with the pink spot and the larger, more adventurous one. The one with the pink spot and the rice grain size wattles is the most timid of the four and the other is the friendliest of the four. Today the friendliest one asked to be picked up.

Also, now that they are in an outdoor coop and pen, I can tell that they settle down for the night as two pairs: two in the doorway and two in the outside back corner. I move the two in the corner onto the 2x4 perch in the coop after dark.

I will post photos when I can get some good ones. In the meantime:

How likely is it that hatchery Silkie cockerels have undeveloped wattles at three months?
How likely is it that hatchery Silkie pullets have regular feathers in their tails?
How likely is it that multiple Silkie cockerels stay friendly with each other, especially if there is at least one pullet around?
How likely is it that the pairing at night are actually pairs (cockerel and pullet)?

Thanks!

 

[ashtree]

Three months ago I received a box of hatchery chicks that I split with another person. Of the chicks I kept, four were white Silkies. I am hoping that at least one is a pullet as I would like to have at least one reliable broody hen. I have not been able to get good photos of the Silkies as all four are very skittish around us. A couple days ago we separated them from the other chicks as one of the ordered pullets turned out to be a cockerel and he has recently become too rough with the other chicks, especially the Silkies.

Since they were just a few days old, one was smaller than the other three and acted like a pullet. However, she and one of the larger ones were the two most curious and adventurous.

Of the three larger ones, one has a tiny comb but the comb has not changed since it was a week old. Another of the larger ones has a pinkish spot in the middle of its flat comb area. That one has some tiny wattles but those signs have not changed in weeks. None of the other three chicks seem to have wattles. One of the three larger chicks has fully feathered feet and a beard. It just might look bigger as it has such fluffy feathers.

All four have round crests and I see no streamers in the crests. All four have some tail feathers that look a bit like the wing feathers. Two have tail feathers that nearly look like regular feathers. (I suspect that this is because they are hatchery chicks (Ideal Poultry). All have black skin, 5 toed feet, blueish beaks, and at least some feathers on their feet. They all get along with each other very well and they got along with the larger pullets.

Two occasionally have a more upright stance, the one with the pink spot and the larger, more adventurous one.

I will post photos when I can get some good ones. In the meantime:

How likely is it that hatchery Silkie cockerels have undeveloped wattles at three months?
How likely is it that hatchery Silkie pullets have regular feathers in their tails?
How likely is it that multiple Silkie cockerels stay friendly with each other, especially if there is at least one pullet around?

Thanks!

In my humble opinion hatchery silkies seem to have larger comb/wattles than show quality. I would think, based only on your written description, that the one with a pink comb is a cockerel. But without pictures I have no way of really knowing. Also I believe it's fairly common for hatchery silkies to have hard tail feathers. And lastly, my silkie cockerels that were raised together are great buddies. I find silkie boys to be very sweet for the most part. So I guess that's not much help! But I look forward to seeing your pictures soon.

 

[Annalog]

In my humble opinion hatchery silkies seem to have larger comb/wattles than show quality. I would think, based only on your written description, that the one with a pink comb is a cockerel. But without pictures I have no way of really knowing. Also I believe it's fairly common for hatchery silkies to have hard tail feathers. And lastly, my silkie cockerels that were raised together are great buddies. I find silkie boys to be very sweet for the most part. So I guess that's not much help! But I look forward to seeing your pictures soon.

Thanks! My fear is that I have three cockerels and one pullet but it would be wonderful if it is the other way around. It is good to know that Silkie cockerels raised together can be great buddies. Not counting the three month old chicks, we currently have 6 roosters, only three that could be called buddies (The Three Stooges) and, while the Three Stooges free range happily together, we have to house one of them separately or the other two pick on him. We are running out of separate housing options.

Now that we have the Silkies separated from the bigger chicks, I can spend more time with them and they seem calmer. It should be easier to take some good photos soon.

 

[TrishSPA]

Hi I'm back

,

after the last two silkies turned out to be both cockerels we now have a new batch of chicks to try again. Hopefully with more luck this time. Unfortunately only one Silkie in this lot (+ Peking and Wyandottes) as the season has just started here
.
Here is a pic of the little one, what do you think?


Just kidding, I know this is too young to say anything, however wanted to show just for cuteness

.
What color would you say this will be. The breeder said she will be black, however at the moment there is lots of light gray fluff appearing every day so I'm not so sure about the black unless this grey colouring is normal at this age (2½ weeks).

Cheers Trish

 

[JHeartRanch]

12 week old buff.

 

[sony224422]

[/IMG]


Trying to figure out if the black one is a roo or not. The tan one I believe is a pullet, but the black one has a waddle and seems to be protective of the tan on. I've never heard it crow or anything. They about about 3-4 months old now. The black one is a little bit bigger than the tan one but not a lot

 

[ashtree]

[/IMG]


Trying to figure out if the black one is a roo or not. The tan one I believe is a pullet, but the black one has a waddle and seems to be protective of the tan on. I've never heard it crow or anything. They about about 3-4 months old now. The black one is a little bit bigger than the tan one but not a lot

I think your black is a roo and your buff a pullet