silkie sexing

[hdowden]

Not sure where to post this so I thought I'd tack it on the end of this very wonderful silkie thread.

I just adopted 2 3 month old silkies. The original owner told me that there was a male and a female. Based on their antics alone, I'd say she's probably right, but when I asked her how she was able to tell her answer was completely new to me.

She told me that if you pull out the male's wing and look at the end of the wing bone there will be an extra "piece" that sticks out. It's got feathers on it and looks comparable to a thumb or extra tiny stiff bunch of feathers. She showed me the pullet and it does not have that. I thought it was interesting to say the least and after I brought the cute guy and gal home I sat down to investigate. But I can't find this information anywhere! Has anyone ever heard of this?

all of mine have what looks like a toe nail on the tips of their wings (not silkies though) so i wouldnt trust that although if anyone on here wants to try this they should and then let everyone know. i can also go out and looks at my parents as they have some silkies.

 

[hdowden]

I have my suspicions with the gender of these chicks but I would like some expert opinion please! They are approximately 8 weeks old. From left to right they are Snowy, Tiny and Peanut:




More of Snowy:





Snowy with Tiny:





Tiny was so small and didn't put on any weight for the first week or so that we had him/her. He/she is still the smallest, is the palest in colour of my 4 partridge chicks, and he/she has always made a lot of noise about EVERYTHING, and is always the one that wants to be in the middle of the chick group huddle (I have 7 chicks in total) trying to get underneath everyone else! Here are some more pictures of Tiny:








Peanut:






Peanut on left, Tiny on the right:


Tiny on the left, Peanut on the right:



Thanks for your help!

the white for sure is a cockerel the other 2 look more pullety but that can still change as they age but the lack of wattle development on these beardless ones make me lean towards pullets

 

[Tricoglossus]

Hi thanks. I agree with you that Snowy is probably a cockerel, he has grown bigger than the other two and today was chest bumping with two of the other chicks that are suspected cockerels. The crest shape and comb sizes of Tiny and Peanut are quite different, should I read much into that at this age? Tiny's comb is about 1/2 the size of Peanut's, but Peanut has a smaller crest. However Tiny had a vaulted skull and Peanut did not - could this alter the shape and size of the crest? Thanks!

 

[hdowden]

if they are hatchery chicks i would bet the 2 buffs are pullets based on comb development

 

[Tricoglossus]

Thanks I hope that is the case. They are from a hobby breeder with a few silkies and some other breeds, we don't really have such things as hatcheries here in Western Australia except for the commercial layers.

 

[Mrshollywood]

Skittles is approx 4 months old.... Not sure if it is hatchery, but for sure not show quality
What is he/she? I swear I spend hours watching how it interacts with the flock trying to see something that cues me in. It doesn't spar with the young cochin roos that are a month older, but I'm sure that doesn't mean anything. It doesn't look upright and rooish to me, but its my first Silkie, and I don't think its suposed to have a pink comb? I don't see any wattles yet? I don't see any random "streamers" on the neck either... Please tell me its a pullet LOL!

 

[Tammys kevin]

its hard to tell with this one, the colour of the comb may not have anything to do with gender, and some silkies dont get wattles at all. im leaning more towards roo, the feathers spiking out the back of its head look suspiciously like streamers, and the comb is quite big, but im only 60% on that

 

[hdowden]

i'm leaning towards a pullet looks just like my moms hatchery girls

 

[aaggjg]

Okay I have 3 White Silkies who are 17 weeks old so yes I know I should be able to tell what they are BUT they dirtied their poufs and well I'm not really sure what they are .... So I took a bunch of pictures and hopefully you can help me ID them. Thanks!

White Silkie A







White Silkie B:







White Silkie C





Group shot :



OOh and I have one more RUNT silkie Blue ..... Who I was convinced is a boy but his pouf is well POUFFY ...... He is a month younger then these ....







Thank You for any insight!!!!

 

[silkiemelon]

Okay I have 3 White Silkies who are 17 weeks old so yes I know I should be able to tell what they are BUT they dirtied their poufs and well I'm not really sure what they are .... So I took a bunch of pictures and hopefully you can help me ID them. Thanks!

White Silkie A







White Silkie B:







White Silkie C





Group shot :



OOh and I have one more RUNT silkie Blue ..... Who I was convinced is a boy but his pouf is well POUFFY ...... He is a month younger then these ....







Thank You for any insight!!!!

1st one pullet
2nd one I'm not sure, it's hard to tell from the pics.
3rd I'm thinking pullet...
4th I think pullet/maybe

They all have pretty rounded crests, which points to pullet, but just watch the combs.