Silkies... boys or girls (also two satins)

[LynnaePB]

Yeah I agree number two definitely looks like a little cockerel. You may have lucked out with pullets for the rest. The white satin and the black silkie to the right on picture #9 have crests that remind me more of a cockerels seeing as they are more swept back but that can happen in pullets/hens as well if they have smaller crests. The combs all look pretty small so I'm leaning more towards them being pullets, MadamPoofyBrow brings up a good point about the wider comb base but by three months I would think there would be a bit more comb development in a male (sometimes they are late bloomers though).

As far as what satins are I've done some research in the past. Here is my understanding of what they are.

Basically they are bred to the exact same standard as a regular silkie (except they have either smooth or frizzle feathers that are not silkied) and in lines where they are fairly far along in generations they are genetically almost completely silkies (99.9% + silkie). I believe cochins were bred in to start them (to get smooth and frizzle feathering).

Many breeders who have satins will mix their silkies and their satins since other than feather type they are pretty much the same.

Silkies are a recognized breed while satins are not. Many breeders hope to have them recognized in the future and are working on it.

I'm not sure how many generations in you have to be in a satin project for it to be considered a satin.

 

[llandry]

Number two definitely looks like a cockerel. Maybe number four. The rest look like pullets. Very pretty birds!

Edit to add: Do you know what they're mixed with? The black satin has such a big crest, she just looks like a smooth feathered silkie

I have silkies around the same age that I'm keeping an eye on that look very similar to these pictures. Just curious when you say "number 2" looks like a boy, do you mean the second picture or "silkie 2" which would really be pic 3 or 4.

Who's on first??? Lol

 

[Hi_imlaurenn]

I have silkies around the same age that I'm keeping an eye on that look very similar to these pictures. Just curious when you say "number 2" looks like a boy, do you mean the second picture or "silkie 2" which would really be pic 3 or 4.

Who's on first??? Lol

She means silkie 2 (pics 3/4)
If you notice his comb and wattles are getting that mulberry color to them (side view is the best way to see) and he doesn't have a poof for hair. Lol

 

[Chicalina]

I totally agree!

Too many irresponsible money grabbing dog breeders make SO much money out of crossbreeds that become fashionable. Here in the UK, some of them charge up to £4,000 for a crossbreed puppy! I digress.

A mutt is a mutt, but they are still great chickens, and in some ways far more interesting. Unless you are showing them, or passing them off as something they aren't, then why not have them and enjoy them.

I'm so curious to see what features mine will inherit from which parent. And what they will look like when they grow up. Someone on here did tell me that first generation silkie crosses don't have silkie feathering, which seems true with my current hatch. Another brood due to hatch in a few days, yay!

I do like your black silkies. Need closer photos to assess sex. I'm not much help, am I!

 

[Chicalina]

I forgot to say, I wouldn't be surprised if your black mixed breed had polish in it. That crest is suspiciously polish looking to me!

 

[Hi_imlaurenn]

Yeah I agree number two definitely looks like a little cockerel. You may have lucked out with pullets for the rest. The white satin and the black silkie to the right on picture #9 have crests that remind me more of a cockerels seeing as they are more swept back but that can happen in pullets/hens as well if they have smaller crests. The combs all look pretty small so I'm leaning more towards them being pullets, MadamPoofyBrow brings up a good point about the wider comb base but by three months I would think there would be a bit more comb development in a male (sometimes they are late bloomers though).

As far as what satins are I've done some research in the past. Here is my understanding of what they are.

Basically they are bred to the exact same standard as a regular silkie (except they have either smooth or frizzle feathers that are not silkied) and in lines where they are fairly far along in generations they are genetically almost completely silkies (99.9% + silkie). I believe cochins were bred in to start them (to get smooth and frizzle feathering).

Many breeders who have satins will mix their silkies and their satins since other than feather type they are pretty much the same.

Silkies are a recognized breed while satins are not. Many breeders hope to have them recognized in the future and are working on it.

I'm not sure how many generations in you have to be in a satin project for it to be considered a satin.

thank you! I have done some reading too when she said she had mixed in satins with hers. I just was unaware at the time of purchase that there could be different feather types. Not that it matters to me because I wanted pets and I love the"satin" feathering. as babies you couldn't tell anything they all four looked them same. But I started to question why the white one looked a bit weird and it dawned on me it had actual feathers not fluff. The only complaint is the black satin can't see very well so I don't know what to do about the head feathers.

 

[Hi_imlaurenn]

I totally agree!

Too many irresponsible money grabbing dog breeders make SO much money out of crossbreeds that become fashionable. Here in the UK, some of them charge up to £4,000 for a crossbreed puppy! I digress.

A mutt is a mutt, but they are still great chickens, and in some ways far more interesting. Unless you are showing them, or passing them off as something they aren't, then why not have them and enjoy them.

I'm so curious to see what features mine will inherit from which parent. And what they will look like when they grow up. Someone on here did tell me that first generation silkie crosses don't have silkie feathering, which seems true with my current hatch. Another brood due to hatch in a few days, yay!

I do like your black silkies. Need closer photos to assess sex. I'm not much help, am I!

please make sure to post a whole thread of your babies because I want to see them!!!!! And yes I thought polish too! I'll have to get a pic of the two black ones tomorrow. They are chunky little things and while they love to get pet they don't like the phone in their face! Lol

 

[LynnaePB]

thank you! I have done some reading too when she said she had mixed in satins with hers. I just was unaware at the time of purchase that there could be different feather types. Not that it matters to me because I wanted pets and I love the"satin" feathering. as babies you couldn't tell anything they all four looked them same. But I started to question why the white one looked a bit weird and it dawned on me it had actual feathers not fluff. The only complaint is the black satin can't see very well so I don't know what to do about the head feathers.

I only have regular silkies but I do sometimes have to trim the crests for them to be able to see. It doesn't look as pretty but they appreciate it!

Satin vs silkie is kind of a debated topic from what I've seen. Personally no matter what you consider them I think that if you have satins/smooth or frizzle feathered silkies with your silkies it would be important to mention when advertising and explain that some of the chicks may end up with smooth or frizzle feathering (depending on what feather types your birds have).

I thought about adding satins to my flock (they sure are pretty) but decided against it as I do sell young chicks and you really can't tell if they will be smooth feathered until they are a week or two old. I'm fine with naked neck silkies though (showgirls) with those you can tell right at hatch so no surprises for anyone buying your chicks.

Oh and thought I'd add a quick photo of the feather types and what a really nice satin can look like. Not my photo (just found it on a google search) but wow Sheri Minkner really bred some beautiful satins!

 

[Hi_imlaurenn]

@LynnaePB
I agree that there should be a note about having mixed feather types when selling chicks. If I were to hatch any and find them homes I would let people know, but I also keep a mixed flock anyway so it would be more on a "these all could be the parents" lol. Personally I'd probably keep the babies and than decide when they are older what to do with them. My son loves keeping chickens and it's a great experience for him (he's 2 1/2). He loves to take care of them and hold them and make sure they have food and water. I'm not trying to show any and while I love the idea of one day just having really fancy pure lines of birds for now we just enjoy our mixed flock, because this really started out to get eggs..... til I realized this hobby is more expensive than any eggs will ever pay back Those birds in the picture are beautiful! Some of them look like a lot of up keep though.

 

[LynnaePB]

@LynnaePB
I agree that there should be a note about having mixed feather types when selling chicks. If I were to hatch any and find them homes I would let people know, but I also keep a mixed flock anyway so it would be more on a "these all could be the parents" lol. Personally I'd probably keep the babies and than decide when they are older what to do with them. My son loves keeping chickens and it's a great experience for him (he's 2 1/2). He loves to take care of them and hold them and make sure they have food and water. I'm not trying to show any and while I love the idea of one day just having really fancy pure lines of birds for now we just enjoy our mixed flock, because this really started out to get eggs..... til I realized this hobby is more expensive than any eggs will ever pay back Those birds in the picture are beautiful! Some of them look like a lot of up keep though.

Aww your son sounds like such a sweet little guy with the chicks! I completely get the joys of a nice mixed flock. I got really into the breeding aspect and decided to just keep silkies but before that we had a mixed flock and it was great having all the variety. Breeding from a mixed flock is so interesting too, you never know what you might get!

It's too bad the breeder you got your little cuties from didn't specify, I'm glad in your case you are happy with your little smooth feathered babies as well though. I see too many cases of people posting various places wondering why their silkie chick grew smooth feathers and sometimes being upset or disappointed.

Silkies bred to more of a show standard are definitely less suited to mixed flocks and free ranging and can be more upkeep for sure. I can really appreciate the ones that are not quite so fluffy and can see better for those with mixed flocks or who free range their chickens.