Whats the easiest and best way to sex silkies?

[destiny_56085]

The absolute easiest was is to fork over roughly $20 and send in a feather for DNA testing. Here is one of the places that does it. http://www.avianbiotech.com/ Its the absolute only guaranteed way to do it. Comb size doesn't always carry through. In different lines of silkies, it can vary greatly. Ex....even on my black girls they might get a comb almost as big as some of my white males. You will see some very large boned, husky, dominant acting pullets as well. I've seen some pullets squeak out a crow and then lay an egg too. If you want a definite answer now, pay for the DNA testing. Otherwise just sit back and be patient for possibly up to a year.

 

[rebel yell]

I dont have Silkies anymore but they are hard to sex untill they start crowing or laying, I had some whites about a year ago & swore I had a trio untill I was outside on day & what I thougt was one of the hens crowed at me, so its a hard thing to learn, good luck.

 

[Debbi]

My 14 Silkies are now 4 1/2 months old, and I can tell who is what. Some lines may mature sooner than others. I look at the combs first, the bigger more prominent ones are the roos. Crests on the roos tend to be less than the females, at least here they do. Watch for the different postures and attitudes. Roos are usually more upright and cockier in temperament. I do have one White Silkie here that this does not apply to. He is very laid back, his comb is in between small and larger, and he never struts his stuff. From day one, this has been the largest chick in the bunch, and I had my questions as to what sex he was...until he crowed!

I now have one little guy chasing the girls trying to mount them already, with so far, 4 crowers. These are just my observations with my own birds, and these are my first go with Silkies. Watching them will help you decide who is what in my opinion.

 

[seminolewind]

I agree with Debi. Mostly I base my guess on posture and attitude.

 

[chickenmadnessainmind]

Quote:
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Just realised that my silkies are just over 5 1/2 months old! But i was able to tell which were roo's from about 2 1/2 months

Once you watch them enough you see who is who!

 

[NYREDS]

Wait 'till they either lay an egg or crow.

 

[onthespot]

This is a cockerel, believe it or not. He is crowing already, but he looks like a pullet. From day one, the upper beak, close to his face, was bigger than his sister.

 

[silky_3699]

Thats some great info everyone! Thank you for that!