Silkies 9 weeks old, wattles showing means boy?
- Thread starter ForTheLoveOfSilkies
- Start date
I asked on the Silkies thread how to tell boys vs girls and someone there mentioned "streamers" and provided some pics. Your black one looks like it might have the start of some streamers coming out of that fabulous head of fluff... (Just kind of spiky longish feathers--streamers)
Your silkies are beautiful!
To answer your question, yes waddles do help sex, but I find it easier to use the comb. But don't rely completely on wattles and comb. You can't be sure on most silkie's genders until they are around 10 weeks old (or older), which is when streamers start coming in. So while it is likely that the chicks with large combs and wattles are male there can always be a twist. I can't tell the difference between the individual silkies so I will do it by picture. Keep in mind that these are guesses, I am never certain on silkie genders until the streamers come in.
Picture one:
Chick on the left looks to be rooster (very red face). The silkie beside "him" looks like a female (very round crest). I can't really see the black chick's comb but his crest looks more pulled back so I am leaning towards male. Can't see the two on the right well enough to make decent guesses.
Picture two:
This one is easier for me. The chick in the left had a very red face and pulled back crest, I'd say male. The other has a small comb and a round, poofy crest, looks female.
Picture three:
The lower black chick has a large comb, but I can't see the crest well (guessing male). The upper black chick has a pulled back comb, but not enough to guarantee it's a male (just keep an eye on that one). The two white silkies in the front look very female to me. I can't see the two whites in the back well enough to sex.
Picture four I can't see anything very well.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
To answer your question, yes waddles do help sex, but I find it easier to use the comb. But don't rely completely on wattles and comb. You can't be sure on most silkie's genders until they are around 10 weeks old (or older), which is when streamers start coming in. So while it is likely that the chicks with large combs and wattles are male there can always be a twist. I can't tell the difference between the individual silkies so I will do it by picture. Keep in mind that these are guesses, I am never certain on silkie genders until the streamers come in.
Picture one:
Chick on the left looks to be rooster (very red face). The silkie beside "him" looks like a female (very round crest). I can't really see the black chick's comb but his crest looks more pulled back so I am leaning towards male. Can't see the two on the right well enough to make decent guesses.
Picture two:
This one is easier for me. The chick in the left had a very red face and pulled back crest, I'd say male. The other has a small comb and a round, poofy crest, looks female.
Picture three:
The lower black chick has a large comb, but I can't see the crest well (guessing male). The upper black chick has a pulled back comb, but not enough to guarantee it's a male (just keep an eye on that one). The two white silkies in the front look very female to me. I can't see the two whites in the back well enough to sex.
Picture four I can't see anything very well.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
- Thread starter
- #4
Great thanks for that info, I might have to wait till the boys crow before I know for sure but the guesses help to know that I will have a couple boys to deal with. I have 5 roosters already and 7 hens so I'm thinking I'll have to make up another coop for just a boys only club. Do you know what I can feed a bunch of roos on the cheap? I don't want to kill any, that's just horrible I think, I can't bear it. I will try and sell/ give away to good home and if not then free range day, coop at night.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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- #5
Maybe a few days on maybe easier to tell who's who??
These pics I took today, some have bigger wattle and showing more comb then the others, so are these boys? The grey in pic, boy?
I have multiple people asking for cockerels at the moment and they want 2 each for pets for their kids so I'm just trying to figure out who's a boy out of my 8. I have already sold all but 1 of my older ones, I thought it would be hard to re-home cockerels! Obviously not silkies
Thanks!
I probably will end up selling my pullets as cockerels
These pics I took today, some have bigger wattle and showing more comb then the others, so are these boys? The grey in pic, boy?
I have multiple people asking for cockerels at the moment and they want 2 each for pets for their kids so I'm just trying to figure out who's a boy out of my 8. I have already sold all but 1 of my older ones, I thought it would be hard to re-home cockerels! Obviously not silkies
Thanks!
I probably will end up selling my pullets as cockerels
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Maybe a few days on maybe easier to tell who's who??
These pics I took today, some have bigger wattle and showing more comb then the others, so are these boys? The grey in pic, boy?
I have multiple people asking for cockerels at the moment and they want 2 each for pets for their kids so I'm just trying to figure out who's a boy out of my 8. I have already sold all but 1 of my older ones, I thought it would be hard to re-home cockerels! Obviously not silkies
Thanks!
I probably will end up selling my pullets as cockerels
These pics I took today, some have bigger wattle and showing more comb then the others, so are these boys? The grey in pic, boy?
I have multiple people asking for cockerels at the moment and they want 2 each for pets for their kids so I'm just trying to figure out who's a boy out of my 8. I have already sold all but 1 of my older ones, I thought it would be hard to re-home cockerels! Obviously not silkies
Thanks!
I probably will end up selling my pullets as cockerels
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- #7
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- #8
Forgot to say they are all 10wks old tomorrow.
Ok here's another fluffy , hard to take good pics but has small wattles showing and comb is smaller then previous fluffball. But still possible boy? Because has wattles?
Ok here's another fluffy , hard to take good pics but has small wattles showing and comb is smaller then previous fluffball. But still possible boy? Because has wattles?
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