Does a silkie pullet have any kind of a comb and wattles?

[zengrrl]

Seriously, my once mighty crowd of 8 has been whittled down to a mere 4 birds. My 5th bird Isis, a gorgeous blue silkie developed full flown comb, wattles and a crow. I rehomed him and now, weeks later another silkie, who had no sign of any such roo parts has a much smaller comb and teeny tiny wattles. Is it possible for a bird of the same age to develop nearly a month later? I'm hoping not. Please be kind, this chicken thing has been tough on me, and at this rate I'll never see an egg, hell!

 

[stephanie1992]

silkie pullets develope small comb and wattles but the comb is like a rose comb.

 

[teach1rusl]

Well...I'm pretty new to silkies. Silkies are supposed to have walnut combs. On bearded birds, you really can't see any wattle. On beardless the wattle is obvious - quite noticeable by week 10 on the cockerel I ended up with, and not very noticeable on the pullet still (at 25 or so weeks of age). Not much comb and tiny wattles sounds like a silkie pullet to me.

 

[adele]

i have just got a pullet that I think is a silkie x australorp. I want to know how you can tell if they are mature or coming into lay if their headgear is black? It obviously doesn't redden up like other breeds when they get to maturity and egg laying?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
Yes, a cockerel who is submissive will most often not start looking "boyish" until he is older OR the dominate cockerel has been taken from the flock (or rooster if you run a rooster with your flock).


I am not saying your silkie is a cockerel, only that it will and does happen - the late developing boys..

 

[KalikoFarms]

So in silkies their comb is sorta like the Silverlaced Wyndottes? And what do you mean by bearded and non bearded? Can you tell I am a newbee? I have some silkies in the incubator and was wondering how to tell roo's from hens. I hope it okay if I asked these questions on this comment page. If I am not supposed to please tell me okay? Thanks
Rita

 

[Desert Rooster]

Silkies are the most difficult breed of chickens to sex, you really cant tell until it either lays an egg, or crows

 

[teach1rusl]

Kaliko - the comb is similar to a wyandottes - but more compact - nothing sticking out.

I think hatchery quality silkies are easier to sex (earlier) than really nice quality silkies. They're not as poofy, so easier to spot characteristics. You can look for thick legs, in beardless the wattle is VERY noticeable, streamers (although my poor quality red silkie pullets' "crests" looked very streamerish - all male indicators.

OP - bearded means what it says - the bird look has feathers all the way around its face, poofy cheeks and poofy under the beak area - like a beard. Beardless are more vulture like in appearance, may have a decent crest, but very short feathers under the beak area, and not much in the cheek area. Here's some examples (all hatchery birds):

Bearded blue silkie in front - see the "beard"?? The red in the background is beardless:

Beardless male at around 12 weeks:

Beardless pullet around the same age:

Hope that helps!

 

[greenpixies]

dear teach1rusl:

I am also a newbie and have been searching high and low within the forums for help sexing Silkies. Your response with photos has been the most helpful I've seen! Thank you so much!

Now that we know that you are an expert, here's some more questions:

1. Do the wattles hang lower (larger too) on male silkies?
2. I've noticed in some of the photos I've seen, that the torquoise ear spot seemed to be only on males (or maybe just bigger and brighter) -- was that just a coincidence or is this an indicator as well?
3. Are 'streamers' long tail feathers? At what age are we likely to see these develop?
4. How do the Combs on males differ than female silkies? In your middle pic, the roo has a very pronounced comb, kinda sticking out and chunky. Is this what all silkie roos will eventually look like (comb wise)?
5. Could you tell us the gender and ages of the silkies in your first picture?
6. Is there a size difference with the genders? I have 7 silkies, all the same age from Ideal Poultry. 3 are white and of those one is WAY bigger with pronounced waddles. 2 are partridge color and there is also a big size difference.
Any thing else that can help us other than waiting for Crow or egg?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Epent12]

Kaliko - the comb is similar to a wyandottes - but more compact - nothing sticking out.


I think hatchery quality silkies are easier to sex (earlier) than really nice quality silkies.  They're not as poofy, so easier to spot characteristics.  You can look for thick legs, in beardless the wattle is VERY noticeable, streamers (although my poor quality red silkie pullets' "crests" looked very streamerish - all male indicators.


OP - bearded means what it says - the bird look has feathers all the way around its face, poofy cheeks and poofy under the beak area - like a beard.  Beardless are more vulture like in appearance, may have a decent crest, but very short feathers under the beak area, and not much in the cheek area.  Here's some examples (all hatchery birds):


Bearded blue silkie in front - see the "beard"??  The red in the background is beardless:

Beardless male at around 12 weeks:

Beardless pullet around the same age:

Hope that helps! /img/smilies/smile.png

Thanks this is so helping me, since the first time I bought my silkies(probably 4 months ago when they're still 2 months old) I think that my silkies are boy & girl, but... I'm pannicking because of other silkie thread that someone show his/her(I dunno) silkie have the exact same size comb & wattles that he/she called 'pullet'. I believe pullet means "young hen that haven't lay an egg" but his/her pullet looks like my silkie roo, and I'm afraid that my silkie roo is a pullet, but I looked at yours and, it's a relief that mine looks just like yours, the roo got that not so big comb and wattles and the girl got none of them thx so much!! Just tell me if you want some pics