What am I?

[MichyA]

Do I have a pullet or cockerel? Chicken is approx 4 months. It's a silkie/polish mix.

 

[Gray Farms]

Pullet. Looks like she's getting ready to lay soon, if she hasn't already.

 

[MichyA]

Pullet. Looks like she's getting ready to lay soon, if she hasn't already.

I'm hoping soon...what makes you say she might be ready? She's been acting more dominant lately. Trying to climb ranks in the pecking order?? She's been flaring out neck feathers and "fighting" with the other girls. Chasing them.... and jumping at them. I thought she might be a cockerel bc of the way she's behaving lately. Also the black and orange silkie/polish I have is a bit younger but already has a much more mellow personality and her crest is more obvious fluffy pullet.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I'm leaning towards cockerel. If it is sixteen week old, I would not excpect such a large comb. Although I don't see any standing out male feathering, the tail keeps making me think boy. Did it have a large comb like that when it was younger?

 

[Jacquie Button]

Those chickens look perfect for Halloween! I love the fancy heads!

 

[MichyA]

I'm leaning towards cockerel. If it is sixteen week old, I would not excpect such a large comb. Although I don't see any standing out male feathering, the tail keeps making me think boy. Did it have a large comb like that when it was younger?

Here it is about a month ago...it's comb has always been larger than the other silkie/polish

 

[lawson1986]

Both of my silky hens have rather large walnut Combs...but little waddles....which makes this really hard to tell. I see no clear waddles...but besides that fact, I would vote pullet, I don't see any clear signs of cockrels plumage....but I'm only about 60% sure ....

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

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Here it is about a month ago...it's comb has always been larger than the other silkie/polish

Then definitely a cockerel. A pullet wouldn't have a comb like that at that age.

 

[Gray Farms]

I'm hoping soon...what makes you say she might be ready? She's been acting more dominant lately. Trying to climb ranks in the pecking order?? She's been flaring out neck feathers and "fighting" with the other girls. Chasing them.... and jumping at them. I thought she might be a cockerel bc of the way she's behaving lately. Also the black and orange silkie/polish I have is a bit younger but already has a much more mellow personality and her crest is more obvious fluffy pullet.

Combs can be misleading in Silkie crosses. So there for you have to look at the other factors. I see no saddle feathers, and at 4 months old if it were a cockerel there should be. So my thinking is. . . 4 months old, no saddle feathers, and a reddening comb = pullet thinking about starting to lay. I'd say in another month or so.

Don't bet the farm on my opinion of course. Looking at a couple of pictures is far different than actually getting your hands on a bird for a good look over. But just going by these pictures and my experience, pullet is my vote.

 

[sourland]

Like the others, I am on the fence on this one. My gut says cockerel, but not definitively sure on this. Another month will tell the story for sure.