silkie sexing

[Brigabart]

Well they are young but I'd love to hear what you think. I have two 5 week old silkies. I have some suspicions that they are boys. There were 6 that hatched out, and my friend gave me two the day after they hatched. Well, now hers are all low stance and laid back, and mine are exploring everything and chest bumping my two 5 week old standard roos LOL. Also, hers have completely feathered wings and mine each have a little bare spot right under the shoulder feathers on their wings! Well, we will see as they age Any guesses?

First is Sleet:



Next photos have both Sleet and Tinsel. Sleet is lighter, Tinsel is darker. Tinsel has a vaulted head also.



And just Tinsel

 

[silkiecuddles]

Well they are young but I'd love to hear what you think. I have two 5 week old silkies. I have some suspicions that they are boys. There were 6 that hatched out, and my friend gave me two the day after they hatched. Well, now hers are all low stance and laid back, and mine are exploring everything and chest bumping my two 5 week old standard roos LOL. Also, hers have completely feathered wings and mine each have a little bare spot right under the shoulder feathers on their wings! Well, we will see as they age Any guesses?
First is Sleet:

Next photos have both Sleet and Tinsel. Sleet is lighter, Tinsel is darker. Tinsel has a vaulted head also.


And just Tinsel

They are adorable!!

I love the second pic where they're doing the same stance! And then that little head tip!

So cute.

5 weeks is really too young to sex silkies. At this point, in the pics, I can't tell anything. Males typically are more outgoing, especially at a young age, but there will always be the occasional chippy female. Keep an eye out on their crest and combs as they grow, as well as their body shape and personality. Keep us updated on their growth, please

 

[silkiecuddles]

Another week since I last posted these 2. Buff is 9-10weeks and silver partridge is 14-15 weeks. What do you think? I keep changing my mind on what they are, haha...

Hmm toughies. My guess at this point is that buff is a cock, and the silver is a pullet. Is either more friendly than the other?

 

[adamwilly]

Hmm toughies. My guess at this point is that buff is a cock, and the silver is a pullet. Is either more friendly than the other?

Once picked up they are both pretty calm, the silver takes a lot of catching though, runs around crazy trying to get away.. The buff doesn't take much to catch and is super calm and quiet to hold

 

[silkiecuddles]

Once picked up they are both pretty calm, the silver takes a lot of catching though, runs around crazy trying to get away.. The buff doesn't take much to catch and is super calm and quiet to hold

Personally, I'd take those as 90% confirmation of female and male, respectively.

I went back a few posts and saw that you had posted their pics last week, and I had the same guess as this week

. So, please keep us updated!

 

[adamwilly]

Personally, I'd take those as 90% confirmation of female and male, respectively. 
 I went back a few posts and saw that you had posted their pics last week, and I had the same guess as this week  . So, please keep us updated!

Thank you, I was hoping you'd change your mind on the buff one, haha... we already have a silkie roo, so it might be going back to the farm in a few weeks

unfortunately.

 

[adamwilly]

Pretty sure this is a hen but no eggs yet?... about 5-6 months old i think

Next to the definate roo, same age.

 

[silkiecuddles]

Pretty sure this is a hen but no eggs yet?... about 5-6 months old i think
.

Yes, cute little pullet My 6month olds aren't laying yet either.

 

[yeye5]

I'd like to ask: is having wattles a sure indicator of being a roo? In my latest silkie hatch see the start of wattles on all 3.
I'm also wondering if a particular couple (or hen) will produce So Many male offspring, i.e. that is her tendency and not just a statistical swing. I keep telling myself I'm due for a hatch or two with all females...
!st hatch (same couple): 3 males, 1 female
2nd hatch (still unsure) looks like at least 2 males.
3rd hatch : impossible to tell yet.
I'd posted pics a while back. (No guesses). I'll get around to posting new pics this week.

 

[silkiecuddles]

N

I'd like to ask: is having wattles a sure indicator of being a roo? In my latest silkie hatch  see the start of wattles on all 3.
I'm also wondering if a particular couple (or hen) will produce So Many male offspring, i.e. that is her tendency and not just a statistical swing. I keep telling myself I'm due for a hatch or two with all females...
!st hatch (same couple): 3 males, 1 female
2nd hatch (still unsure) looks like at least 2 males.
3rd hatch : impossible to tell yet.
I'd posted pics a while back. (No guesses). I'll get around to posting new pics this week.

No, not necessarily. All chicks have wattles. But with male silkie chicks, their wattles tend to be larger and more vibrant at a younger age than a females, IMO.
I've wondered that too, if some hens are more prone to throw a particular gender. I had one silkie hen who only ever hatched one chick at a time, and they were always females.
With silkies, though, it seems like we always have more males
Either it's just bad luck, or, well, bad luck :/