What age can I tell a rooster from a hen with silkies?

[kingdr85]

Once they get old enought (6-10 weeks), my boys usually go through a growth spur and out grow the girls VERY QUICKLY. The girls are usually more featherly advanced then the boys for much of their pullet-cockerel state. ONce the males are "mature" their feathers really start to SHOW OFF.

 

[todtrac]

That is a great idea.. I believe I will try this.

I was told to also try a light in the coop too.

 

[todtrac]

My silkies just cuddle in the corner too... actually they keep pushing each other trying to get further in the corner than the next one.... not very bright..

 

[Jx2inNC]

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Oh, if it gets too windy and/or cold, they'll go inside...

 

[xyresicchick]

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x2

i would do that.

my cochins head home at dusk.... and by this i mean they run in circles around the coop "churk"ing at each other until they find the door. my wyandotte girl Midge will even jump on the coop roof and look at me with a very confused expression on her face.... then hop down and up several times before she realizes how the others went through the door. Yep... not the brightest creatures.... but still very loveable!

 

[xyresicchick]

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oh my cochins do that too! they pile on top of each other. it is hilarious. they always go for one corner too, but it's a different corner every night.

 

[todtrac]

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oh my cochins do that too! they pile on top of each other. it is hilarious. they always go for one corner too, but it's a different corner every night.

I notice you are having fall peeps... are you not worried about the weather?

 

[xyresicchick]

no not really. i will keep them in a brooder inside until they are fluffy/big enough then i will have them in a seperated corner of the coop so my big girls can see them. i will have a heat lamp on them if it gets cold I have a temp controller outlet plug that turns on at a certain temp. and once they're bigger they will only need that.

 

[todtrac]

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Interesting, I was wandering how late in the year to raise chicks... I think I will wait for spring to hatch out another batch.

Good Luck with them... have fun.

 

[Tartannik]

Mt black silkies don't have blue ears, only my partridge, is this normal?? I still can't tell what mine are and they are 4 months, keep thinking they are one thing then getting conflicting ideas!!