The silkie chicken remains to be one of the most unique breeds of chickens in the world today, both as a regular chicken and as a bantam chicken. These birds, which are native to China (first documented by Marco Polo in the 13th century), are equally useful as pets and livestock. Their exotic plumage makes them attractive to observers, and they brood on a variety of eggs.

As silkie chickens mature, they develop differences between them because they are sexually dimorphic. Below is what you need to know about the silkie hen vs rooster. This information will help you distinguish males from females in this popular chicken breed, whether you're just curious about their unique traits or trying to sex your flock.

Physical and behavioral characteristics of Silkies can help you determine their sex if you're trying to tell males from females.

It is a challenge to sex silkie chicken reliably at an early age. Among experienced breeders, vent sexing is the most commonly used method. Although it's a good way to tell, it's not the most reliable or safest for the silkie chick.

Note that we'll be using U.S. standard breed information instead of Australian and British bantam data.

Physical Appearance​

It is inevitable that some physical differences will emerge between males and females as they age and mature.

1. Wings​

One of the simplest ways to distinguish males and females is to look at their wings. There is a significant difference in the definition of the primary wing feathers between males and females. The males are fluffier. Compared side-by-side, the difference is quite evident but difficult to describe.

2. Crown feathers​

The crown feathers of silkie hens are not more uniform and round than those of roosters. You would notice a large tuft of crown feathers on the head of a silkie hen if you looked directly down. Overall, the crown feathers have a round shape, and they are neat and tight.

As for the silkie rooster, that cannot be said. Its plume of crown feathers has a square shape. Additionally, each crown feather is not the same size. Their streamer feathers grow longer than any other feathers on their head. Hens' crown feathers seem much neater than silkie rooster's.

The presence of streamer feathers and the overall shape of the feathers on their crown is a defining feature of the silkie rooster.

3. General Plumage​

Females and males look similar, but there are some differences in their plumage despite both looking like fluffy balls of feathers. The silkie rooster has longer feathers poking through the fluffy ones. The saddle and hackle feathers on the neck are also pointed. They sometimes have more pointy feathers at the end of their tails, too.

4. Wattles​

It takes silkie hens longer to develop wattles than roosters, and are smaller than those of male silkies. It usually takes a silkie rooster three or four weeks to develop his wattle, while it takes a silkie hen slightly longer.

A silkie rooster's wattle grows much longer than a hen's but is much larger than a silkie hen's. Both creatures have wattles. Additionally, you'll know right away whether the silkie is a hen or a rooster when you see its comb and wattle together.

5. Comb​

Silkie hens have combs that are smaller and shaped differently from silkie roosters. In addition to having a smaller comb, silkie hens also have V-shaped combs.

Silkie rooster combs are typically larger and bulging than hen combs since they are walnut-shaped, so they appear big, wrinkled, and bulging. When compared to the hen's comb, the silkie rooster's comb is the most distinguishing feature of its head.

6. Feet and Legs​

Feet and legs are also pretty obvious giveaways. One interesting fact - Silkies have five toes instead of four, which is one of the few breeds or species of birds with this feature. In addition, male legs become thicker and stronger as they grow.

Males tend to have more, thicker leg feathers since they are one of the few breeds with feathers on their legs. Due to the fact that this trait is passed down from the parents, you can only use this sexing method if you are comparing chickens of the same brood.

7. Spurs​

Spurs are present on silkie roosters, but not on silkie hens. Roosters develop spurs, which act similarly to the talons of other birds.

It is rare for hens to develop these spurs, and when they do, they're usually several years into their lives. People need to keep an eye out for these spurs in their silkies, as roosters' spurs need to be trimmed regularly. Longer ones can hinder the chicken's ability to walk or even cut into its skin.

8. Size​

In comparison to silkie roosters, silkie hens are smaller. There are differences in growth rates among silkie hens, but on average they will grow between 8 and 14 inches and reach a maximum weight of 3 pounds or slightly less.

Roosters are also expected to grow between 8 and 14 inches, but roosters are more likely than hens to reach the larger measurement. There will also be a noticeable difference in weight between a silkie rooster and a hen, as a silkie rooster will weigh between 2 and 4 pounds.

Other Ways to Determine Silkie Sex​

It may be helpful to understand the differences between silkie hens and silkie roosters, but you might need more data if you haven't had much experience determining a young bird's sex.

During different stages of development, males and females exhibit different behaviors. Laying an egg is the most obvious. It can take 7-9 months for Silkies to start laying eggs. Besides egg laying, you should start paying attention to these other behaviors:

1. Crowing​

Crowing is rarely done by most hens unless they are trying to establish their place in the "pecking order" or they are truly unique. It takes a silkie rooster about four to five months to start crowing. In most cases, you can't miss it. Even though it's such a small bird, it can produce a deafening crow.

2. Tidbiting.​

Roosters use tidbitting to alert the flock to new food they've found by making noises and dancing. Hens are also capable of tidbiting. There's a good chance you have a rooster if this signal aligns with some of the others.

3. Body Language​

Silkies have a friendly and docile body language. The roosters will, however, become bossy as they mature, showing some dominant behavior among the flock. It is common to see males chest-bumping and getting physically aggressive with each other in a brood. In addition to becoming protective and territorial over their flock, roosters also begin to assert themselves.

4. Posture​

A good place to start is by observing the silkies' posture. A silkie rooster often stands upright and holds his tail higher than a female. Silkie hens usually hold themselves horizontally.

Conclusion​

You can tell male and female silkies apart at different stages and ages based on their physical signs and behavioral characteristics. Although Silkies show some of these signs from several months of age, they are one of the hardest breeds to reliably sex.

You can use a DNA test if you want to know what your chicks' sex is for sure. For more information on how and where this can be done on your chicks, speak with a local poultry expert.

Watching your flock grow up is a treat if you're willing to wait. Among all the wonderful, fun, and interesting breeds of chickens, Silkies offer the most unique appearance. Among the solid colors of Silkie chickens are White, Buff, Black, Blue, Red, Cuckoo, Porcelain, and Lavender. Among the patterned varieties are Paint, Splash, Partridge, and Gray. The docile nature and friendly personality of this chicken breed also make it the perfect pet for your kids.

When silkie hens and roosters get older, their differences should become more apparent, making it easier to identify them. I know one thing for sure - you're going to have a blast with these adorable fur balls around your chicken coop. Whether silkie hen or rooster.
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