So I was gifted some silkies...

[Rowsdower]

My sister purchased these for me at the Lucasville swap today. She was told that they were 4-5 months old and either both pullets or one of each sex. Having no experience with this breed, I have no idea how such a determination is made. Anyone want to help me out? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Rowsdower]

I just wanted to add that neither of them has ANYTHING resembling a comb. :/

 

[Silkie Girl]

They both look like hens to me, but it is hard to sex them until they crow or lay an egg. I was wrong with one of my silkies(one in my profile picture). I thought she was a rooster. She had a feisty attitude while growing up. She laid an egg when she was 6 months old. You will learn what gender they are really soon. BTW they are really pretty.

 

[ozarkchicks]

very pretty but silikes are hard to tell, wait for the crow or the egg

 

[Rowsdower]

Thank you for your kind words. I have always maintained that I only wanted chickens that looked like chickens, not some sort of ugly mutant feather duster. But from the time she opened their box and dumped them out, I don't think I have stopped squealing. They are SOOOO CUTE.

If it helps for the purposes of sexing, the black chick appears to be getting in some darker feathers on the back of his/her topknot. I think you might be able to see them in the 2nd pic. I thought that these were maybe his "streamers", but could just be new feathers. The lady was listening to their voices. I guess. I have no idea how accurate a method this is, but they DO have two distinctly different tones. It was the breeder's opinion that the black one was male and the white one female. But she changed her mind about the black one a few times so I'm not sure at all. LOL


ETA: I haven't slept much at all, so forgive any confusion. Every time I would close my eyes, I'd dream that I found a garter snake the size of an anaconda getting into the quarantine coop. Chickens make me crazy.