Silkies in Illegal Rooster Territory

[Creteloc]

Here's an odd question. It's illegal to have roosters in my town. I'm getting 4 silkies in the very near future. I love those chickens! I've been studying up on them and it seems like you won't know a hen from a rooster until it either lays or crows. The last thing I need is to find out it's a rooster when animal control shows up (I go to work before the sun comes up).

I'm curious how others in my situation have handled the no-crowing allowed rule when housing unsexed silkies.

 

[Lauren Kim]

That’s correct. You can’t tell if they are boys or girls until they start laying. I would wait.

 

[PirateGirl]

I chose to purchase sexed pullets from a breeder. It wasn't specifically silkies, but still applies. I got my birds at approximately 6 weeks of age. The breeder Guaranteed sexing and if one turned out to be a cockerel in the end I could exchange it. It is was more expensive than buying day old chicks, but the brooding part was done for me. The breeder had many varieties of birds ranging from $10-$100 depending on how rare/color/show quality.

 

[Creteloc]

I chose to purchase sexed pullets from a breeder. It wasn't specifically silkies, but still applies. I got my birds at approximately 6 weeks of age. The breeder Guaranteed sexing and if one turned out to be a cockerel in the end I could exchange it. It is was more expensive than buying day old chicks, but the brooding part was done for me. The breeder had many varieties of birds ranging from $10-$100 depending on how rare/color/show quality.

Thanks. I'll keep looking. I haven't been able to find any older silkies. I actually prefer pullets that are 4+ weeks.

 

[PirateGirl]

I know a lot of people want the chick raising experience, but personally, for my first chickens, the thought of slightly older birds was extremely appealing. I don't have a barn or garage, I didn't want the chick mess in the house, and there are dogs and cats in the house that would love a chick snack. I believe in this site is a breeder list somewhere.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ordering sexed from mypetchicken.com may be the way to go.

 

[Creteloc]

Oh, when I looked at them they didn't have day-olds until September. I didn't know they had older ones. I'll go back and see.