silkie sexing

[Momma 2 silkies]

I am new to and this is my first flock also but my chicks have all developed their combs early. I have to re home some of mine because I have 4 boys and only 2 girls. I have 4 whites that I can not figure out for the life of me but 1 and that is because he has large wattles at 9 weeks and a pretty good comb showing through his feathers to. I think my whites have found a new home and they are leaving tomorrow. Then I am going to pick up a few splash chicks that are 3 weeks old. Love my silkie chicks they are funny to watch.

 

[aoxa]

I am new to and this is my first flock also but my chicks have all developed their combs early. I have to re home some of mine because I have 4  boys and only 2 girls. I have 4 whites that I can not figure out for the life of me but 1 and that is because he has large wattles at 9 weeks and a pretty good comb showing through his feathers to. I think my whites have found a new home and they are leaving tomorrow. Then I am going to pick up a few splash chicks that are 3 weeks old. Love my silkie chicks they are funny to watch.

Are your silkies from a hatchery? Silkies that are high quality should not have combs like this at 9 weeks old. Boys or girls. Better quality = harder sexing.

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

Are your silkies from a hatchery? Silkies that are high quality should not have combs like this at 9 weeks old. Boys or girls. Better quality = harder sexing.

No they are from a local breeder and she has a hard time sexing hers early to. I am going to get more from her tomorrow. My chicks started getting the color to their combs at 4 weeks. I have just been waiting to see if any more changed. I have 4 males out of my original 6 chicks and only 2 girls. Hoping for better odds this time around.

 

[aoxa]

No they are from a local breeder and she has a hard time sexing hers early to. I am going to get more from her tomorrow. My chicks started getting the color to their combs at 4 weeks. I have just been waiting to see if any more changed. I have 4 males out of my original 6 chicks and only 2 girls. Hoping for better odds this time around.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but these chicks do not look like they are good quality silkies. Did you see the parents that the breeder had? Where did they acquire their original birds? I always ask this. I like to see nice fluffy silkies with small combs and nice sized crests. My chicks were much fluffier and had no combs (even the boys) at this age.

This is an 8 week old pullet (she is now 12 weeks old, but was 8 weeks in the picture). Can't even see her eyes..

This is a boy at 8 weeks old. Comb is not noticeable at all, even when you pull fluff back. I am not 100% sure this is a male at all, but going with male based on streamers, attitude and gut feeling.

 

[Momma 2 silkies]

My silkies are just pets. I do not show them or anything else. I just love how cute and friendly they are. I wasn't paying a fortune for chicks that might not make it. Yes, I saw the parents to my chicks and they are very nice. Big crests and lots of comb. She didn't know what to say when I told her that I already knew what sex they were this early. Her chickens aren't SQ silkies either but they are still very pretty birds. She has black, splash, buff, red and a calico, they are just pets as well. I think my chicks are very pretty for what they are and from what I have read on here, every chicken grows and develops differently.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I have 2 partridge silkies that are about 3 months old. I have no idea how to sex silkies except wait until they either crow or lay and egg. If I were to post pics, could someone help? How old do they usually have to be to tell?

 

[silkiemelon]

I have 2 partridge silkies that are about 3 months old. I have no idea how to sex silkies except wait until they either crow or lay and egg. If I were to post pics, could someone help? How old do they usually have to be to tell?

Post pics!
Sex is usually determined between 5-6 months of age, but sometimes it is determined much sooner, depending on the bird.
I have a silkie I knew was a girl since she was 8 weeks. It really varies.

 

[aoxa]

My silkies are just pets. I do not show them or anything else. I just love how cute and friendly they are. I wasn't paying a fortune for chicks that might not make it. Yes, I saw the parents to my chicks and they are very nice. Big crests and lots of comb. She didn't know what to say when I told her that I already knew what sex they were this early. Her chickens aren't SQ silkies either but they are still very pretty birds. She has black, splash, buff, red and a calico, they are just pets as well. I think my chicks are very pretty for what they are and from what I have read on here, every chicken grows and develops differently. 

Of course they are not ugly! All silkies are cute (well all I've seen), but when I was just mentioning that they weren't SQ - I was saying it because sexing SQ silkies is much different from sexing PQ silkies. That's all

Yes, every chicken does develop differently.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Post pics!
Sex is usually determined between 5-6 months of age, but sometimes it is determined much sooner, depending on the bird.
I have a silkie I knew was a girl since she was 8 weeks. It really varies.

'Kay, thank you.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Here's silkie number 1. Whaddya think?





And silkie number 2.








Thanks for any input you guys may have. I've been curious about these little ones for about 3 months now. =P I wanna know what I have!