The ONE MILLIONTH question about sexing a silkie

[KittyWhips]

Sorry everyone, but I HAVE to ask

I read that their are people who are so experienced that they can tell the sex of a silkie by looking at them. I am a newbie but have been doing my research in order to be prepared for my first chicken, a silkie, who will be our little princess, indoor chicken pet. My biggest fear is ending up with a rooster. I don't live somewhere that a roosters crow would be welcomed, and I fall in love with animals immediately. So how do I get a chick to raise from a baby without getting my heart broken? If I had a friend with a farm I would be able to hand a rooster over to them knowing I'd have a good long life, but I know of no such person.
Is there a DNA test for chicks?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

There is, it takes like 2 weeks I think and is like 25$ bucks I think

 

[nuthatched]

Yes there are DNA tests, and quite inexpensive.
How ever, chickens are flock animals, they need other chickens, so why not get two or three, they're small!

 

[KittyWhips]

Yes there are DNA tests, and quite inexpensive.
How ever, chickens are flock animals, they need other chickens, so why not get two or three, they're small!

I was thinking of 2 girls so when I have to put them in a crate at night they can cuddle....that is if I can leave them alone for that long,lol.
So if I ask the breeder to do the DNA test will they if I pay for it? It's just that all the breeders I have found so far are 2 or 3 hours away.

 

[nuthatched]

I was thinking of 2 girls so when I have to put them in a crate at night they can cuddle....that is if I can leave them alone for that long,lol.
So if I ask the breeder to do the DNA test will they if I pay for it? It's just that all the breeders I have found so far are 2 or 3 hours away.

I found this, but if you search BYC, there's someone who just had her chicks analyzed and it wasn't very expensive at all.
https://iqbirdtesting.com/

I doubt many breeders will do it, I think you'll have to pay for it yourself.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I found this, but if you search BYC, there's someone who just had her chicks analyzed and it wasn't very expensive at all.
https://iqbirdtesting.com/

I doubt many breeders will do it, I think you'll have to pay for it yourself.

I think they meant they'd pay but asking the breeder to do it include it ends up being a roo they can't take with them

 

[nuthatched]

I think they meant they'd pay but asking the breeder to do it include it ends up being a roo they can't take with them

I don't know about that either, I think the best bet would be finding started pullets.

 

[KittyWhips]

I don't know about that either, I think the best bet would be finding started pullets.

Correct! I am not worried about the cost of a DNA analysis, just what's best for the bird. If a chick gets a DNA test by the breeder I will drive the 3 hours to pick up a hen or two and the risk of a surprise rooster is eliminated and therefore fi ding a safe place for him to go. I guess it comes down to speaking directly to a few breeders. But the fact there IS a DNA option is very good news. The more I learn about silkies the more excited I get about having them with me, but I want to wait until spring to give her or her and her sister sure shine and not this cold rain to enjoy running and a pecking and scratching in the grass for some protien .

Do you all know if the lavender silkies actually are lavender or is it the combination of colors that give off a lavender hue?

 

[Willawong Hill]

There is a lavender gene in chickens (and also a blue, which is a separate but somewhat similar looking colour), I assume someone has bred it into silkies though I haven't ever seen one. Hope you find a breeder who will DNA the chicks for you. I also second getting 2 or 3 as birds of a feather like to flock together.

 

[KittyWhips]

There is a lavender gene in chickens (and also a blue, which is a separate but somewhat similar looking colour), I assume someone has bred it into silkies though I haven't ever seen one. Hope you find a breeder who will DNA the chicks for you. I also second getting 2 or 3 as birds of a feather like to flock together.

Thank you