Tips on sexing silkies!

[PippinTheChicken]

Sexing silkies- we all know how tricky that is!
We know that you can't get it 100% correct until you find an egg or hear a crow!
But I want to know, how can you get it as accurate as possible? I'd like to gather info to help myself and others.
I might (not sure yet) get a new silkie (around 6-7wks old) and I want to know what features on a chick I must avoid when choosing one.
I will look out for comb and wattle growth, tall posture, saddles and crazy crests.
But what else do I need to look out for?
Any tips?
@MysteryChicken I know you're a master at this so please educate us!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Here is my young man. He has red leakage on his shoulders, wattle and comb growth and a very hilarious and bold personality.
His personality made me guess "that's a boy" from a day after hatching!

Some chick pics... As you can see he always wants to be the star of EVERY pic!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Great article here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sexing-silkies.75451/

 

[PippinTheChicken]

That article is great! Thanks @PioneerChicks for writing that amazing article (maybe you can join in this thread) and thanks @LadiesAndJane for sharing

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Ooh! I'm desperately trying to figure out the gender of my silkies (3, 5 week olds) and I have my suspicions, but must wait and see!

 

[PioneerChicks]

Great article here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/sexing-silkies.75451/

That article is great! Thanks @PioneerChicks for writing that amazing article (maybe you can join in this thread) and thanks @LadiesAndJane for sharing

Thanks you two!

I'd say hackle feathers are the most reliable, but the comb grows in at a younger age. In hatchery birds, the crest shape is good too.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

If I decide to get it, I will be getting it from a school. This high school has a farm and is selling some 6 week old chicks. I don't really know where they came from
I'm not sure if I'm getting it yet

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Can anyone explain hackles in more detail. Not sure if i will know what to look for

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Getting the chick today!
I will look out for:

• Comb growth
• Wattle growth
• Saddles
• Tall Posture
• Red Colouring on shoulders
• Bold personality (this one not so much becauae hens can be like this too!)

 

[PippinTheChicken]

When I went to visit the chicks yesterday...
They were really obvious!
A few had tiny combs and wattles and a tall posture!
A few had horizontal posture, no comb/wattle growth and the looked quite peaceful.
I know which type of chick I'll be picking today!