Silkies - Sexing

Jessi.Smith · Nov 1, 2018

So, I have a batch of silkies. They are different ages - the lady I got the chicks from had a fire ant infestation pop up and sold all the chicks she had as a bunch. I have had them almost 11 weeks and she said the average age when I got them was 2 weeks. So, I think most are about 13 weeks. There was one larger one that she said she thought was a rooster, but the chicks all liked him so she threw him in. He (Big Bird) just started crowing, so we know he is a he for sure now.
Most of the pure silkie chicks are not bearded. There are also some show girl chicks. My question is, do non-bearded silkie hens and show girl hens get waddles? With the varying ages I am having a hard time telling by comparing them. I have attached a couple pics of the ones that came to tell me good morning this morning.

JedJackson · Nov 1, 2018

Big Bird and Cara look like cockerels to me, and I think Yeti is probably one, too. There is no comb picture for Pumpkin, but from what I can see it looks more like a pullet.

Jessi.Smith · Nov 1, 2018

Do you know if non-bearded silkies and show girls get waddles regardless of the gender? Big Bird crowed (he has been for a few days, we just were able to confirm it was him today). Good call on that one

Jessi.Smith · Nov 1, 2018

Here is Latte, Cara's twin (I call them twins, not actually twins). They have always been about the same size, but I don't see waddles on Latte.

Jessi.Smith · Nov 1, 2018

And Pumpkin is too shy to let me get very close with my phone. I will try to get some more individual pics of them as the day goes on.

JedJackson · Nov 1, 2018

Jessi.Smith said:
Do you know if non-bearded silkies and show girls get waddles regardless of the gender? Big Bird crowed (he has been for a few days, we just were able to confirm it was him today). Good call on that one

Yes, male and female non-beardeds will both get wattles. But the females shouldn't get big ones, at least not until they are 16 weeks or so. Latte does look like a pullet.