Silkie thread!

[sue25]

My babies are two weeks old.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I'd like to see a very clear side head/neck as well as comb picture in very bright light. Flash may or may not help.

That might be female.

Here's the best I could do with a crappy cheap phone that doesn't allow access to the flash setting while taking pics. They don't really have much comb yet, mainly an bald indented area above the beak.

 

[Hinotori]

Here's the best I could do with a crappy cheap phone that doesn't allow access to the flash setting while taking pics. They don't really have much comb yet, mainly an bald indented area above the beak.

View attachment 1120403 View attachment 1120405

See now, with the coloring of the neck feathers and size of comb, I'd say girl fairly confidently. There are no streamers on the crest, it just hasn't finished growing in.

All the partridge boys I've had have always had orange necks by that age, and get the gold hackles later on. The girls have the typical partridge neck feathers of tan and dark brown/black.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

See now, with the coloring of the neck feathers and size of comb, I'd say girl fairly confidently. There are no streamers on the crest, it just hasn't finished growing in.

All the partridge boys I've had have always had orange necks by that age, and get the gold hackles later on. The girls have the typical partridge neck feathers of tan and dark brown/black.

That's good to know! My white one's comb is the same, not much of it yet. No sign of any streamers either, and tail is pouffy (no hard feathers). Since he was a lot more cooperative for the head shot, here he is.

 

[Hinotori]

That's good to know! My white one's comb is the same, not much of it yet. No sign of any streamers either, and tail is pouffy (no hard feathers). Since he was a lot more cooperative for the head shot, here he is.

View attachment 1120420

That also might be a girl. How old are they? 3-4 months?

 

[Hinotori]

And just for a reference, here's head shot of adults. Sorry it was getting dark out.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

That also might be a girl. How old are they? 3-4 months?

Yes, I was told they were four weeks at the end of June. It would simplify my life if they both grew up to be girls, but if I end up with a boy (or two) I'll just have to hope that the rooster collars work.

I took a look at your adult head shots, now I can easily see the difference between the sexes. I'm guessing the one on the bottom is the roo? Now I know to watch for the much longer orangey "streamer" feathers on the neck. I notice they don't appear to have wattles, unless they're hidden under the feathers. When I was first looking for Silkies, I found a breeder advertising "show quality" birds, which had no feathering on their feet, prominent wattles, no crests, and single combs.

 

[sue25]

My partridge girl looks the same as yours do. I call her Goldie.

 

[sue25]

I'm not sure of the sex of this silver back satin silkie though. Maybe one of you will know.

 

[Hinotori]

Yes, I was told they were four weeks at the end of June. It would simplify my life if they both grew up to be girls, but if I end up with a boy (or two) I'll just have to hope that the rooster collars work.

I took a look at your adult head shots, now I can easily see the difference between the sexes. I'm guessing the one on the bottom is the roo? Now I know to watch for the much longer orangey "streamer" feathers on the neck. I notice they don't appear to have wattles, unless they're hidden under the feathers. When I was first looking for Silkies, I found a breeder advertising "show quality" birds, which had no feathering on their feet, prominent wattles, no crests, and single combs.

Bearded are supposed to have little to no wattles. My boys do have some. I haven't got around to working on improving that yet.

Non-bearded have wattles. They also look like they can see better since there isn't the muff covering their eyes from below as well.


So those silkies you saw advertised were lacking most breed traits. Lol. Even hatchery birds normally have the correct traits, though quality is lacking. I had a hatchery silkie rooster with a single comb. It doesn't stop them from having a crest.

Several of my birds aren't showable anymore. I had a size mutation show up and am breeding for it now. They are staying in proportion, just a bit bigger.

Most of them are still normal sized silkies. This will take a long time.