Silkies ~ Colors and Gender Guide {May need tweaks}

[White Valley Acres]

I've realized that telling silkie color and gender is a big chore sometimes, so I'm putting out the information I know on silkies here.
Feel free to reply/comment with other facts and knowledge you have on the breed, this page is just to give newcomers a sense of knowledge when starting out with the silkie breed.

Starting off with different colors of the silkie breed (pictures are taken from web, I don't own all the colors)

Black Silkies

~ Black Silkie Hen ~ ~ Black Silkie Rooster ~

Blue Silkies

~ Blue Silkie Hen ~ ~ Blue Silkie Rooster ~

Buff/Gold Silkies

~ Buff/Gold Silkie Hen ~ ~ Buff/Gold Silkie Rooster ~

Red Silkies

~ Red Silkie Hen(s) ~ ~ Red Silkie Rooster ~

Partridge Silkies

~ Partridge Silkie Hen ~ ~ Partridge Silkie Rooster ~

Splash Silkies

~ Splash Silkie Hen ~ ~ Splash Silkie Hen (left) and Rooster (right) ~

White Silkies

~ White Silkie Hen ~ ~ White Silkie Rooster (very good picture of his streamers) ~

Lavender Silkies

~ Lavender Silkie Hen ~ ~ Lavender Silkie Rooster ~

Paint Silkies

~ Paint Silkie Hen ~ ~ Paint Silkie Rooster ~

Porcelain Silkies

~ Porcelain Silkie Hen ~ ~ Porcelain Silkie Rooster ~

~ Little Notes ~
* Blue & Lavender Silkies are rather similar, but they are two different hues of grey, classifying as two different colors.
* Red & Buff Silkies, also being very similar, but two different hues of orange.
* Paint Silkies and Splash Silkies are different colors, sometimes it is hard to tell between the two, but often paint silkies will have spots/patches of color, rather than a gradient of color throughout their fluff like splashes.


~ Sexing Silkies ~
Now, there are a lot of different ways to try and sex your silkie chicks. Some are easier than others and some are rather hard, as they can change as the chick grows. Here are some key indications for sexing your silkie chicks

Certain key points of gender are:
* Comb Size
* Feet Fluff
* Streamers
* Mane

~ Comb Size ~
Comb size is usually a big benefactor in all chickens for telling gender of a young chick or chicken. It's best to have your chicks all hatched at the same time (around the same age atleast), speaking in overall chicken sexxing, most rooster chicks will have bigger combs than their hen-siblings/chick-mates. Usually around 5 weeks. Now this goes for the majority of chicken breeds, but this isn't a fore-sure gender teller in the silkie breed.

~ Feet Fluff ~
Male silkies will tend to have fluffier feet than females. (This is a good gender indication for young chicks) though you should also keep in mind their streamers.

~Streamers ~
Male silkies around 3-5 weeks (and on) will have "streamers" on the top of their heads, streamers are protruding/stiff feathers that stand up on the chicks head, sometimes females can have this too, but they'll often lay down. If your chick looks like this:

It's a good chance he's a rooster.

~ Mane ~
Rooster manes, these are used to ward off opposing roosters in a show of dominance.
See here:

(Ayam Cemani Roosters fighting for dominance)
This is a key difference in adult chickens.

This white silkie rooster has streamers visable, and a mane. This is a great example of a rooster silkie. (White, Buff, and Partridge roosters shown)

This white silkie hen is plump and fluffy, no streamers, no mane. (White, Buff, and Partridge hens shown)

Here is a picture and diagram of roosters (a & c) and hens (b & d) feather difference with facial appearances as well.

If you're needing more help discerning, I found this video rather helpful:

And:

If I missed anything please tell me, and I will happily add it to the guide.

Thanks,
White Valley Acres

 

[Hannahnic14]

Bookmarking this! I'm new to silkies and this is invaluable!

 

[Hannahnic14]

Does the feathered feet concept apply to day old chicks? 2 of mine have visibly more feathered feet than the other 2.

 

[White Valley Acres]

Does the feathered feet concept apply to day old chicks? 2 of mine have visibly more feathered feet than the other 2.

Hmm... I would assume so, but don't take my word for it
I think it's safer to tell when they're a couple weeks or closer to 5-7 days?
In most chicken breeds, the females are the ones that grow faster, that's why I'm hesitating.

 

[Hannahnic14]

Hmm... I would assume so, but don't take my word for it
I think it's safer to tell when they're a couple weeks or closer to 5-7 days?

Gotcha, thanks! I'll keep an eye on them.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

You forgot grey/silver partridge

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Here is a thread about tips for sexing silkies. You can add it if you'd like!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tips-on-sexing-silkies.1477252/

Also, maybe you could add what each colour looks like as a chick!

 

[White Valley Acres]

Hmm... I would assume so, but don't take my word for it
I think it's safer to tell when they're a couple weeks or closer to 5-7 days?

You forgot grey/silver partridge
View attachment 2771083View attachment 2771084
View attachment 2771085

I didn't know there was such a thing! Could I use your chick picture in my guide?

 

[White Valley Acres]

I've realized that telling silkie color and gender is a big chore sometimes, so I'm putting out the information I know on silkies here.
Feel free to reply/comment with other facts and knowledge you have on the breed, this page is just to give newcomers a sense of knowledge when starting out with the silkie breed.

Starting off with different colors of the silkie breed (pictures are taken from web, I don't own all the colors)
View attachment 2769803

Black Silkies
View attachment 2769804View attachment 2769805
~ Black Silkie Hen ~ ~ Black Silkie Rooster ~

Blue Silkies
View attachment 2769824View attachment 2769825
~ Blue Silkie Hen ~ ~ Blue Silkie Rooster ~

Buff/Gold Silkies
View attachment 2769809View attachment 2769810
~ Buff/Gold Silkie Hen ~ ~ Buff/Gold Silkie Rooster ~

Red Silkies
View attachment 2769887View attachment 2769888
~ Red Silkie Hen(s) ~ ~ Red Silkie Rooster ~

Partridge Silkies
View attachment 2769815View attachment 2769816
~ Partridge Silkie Hen ~ ~ Partridge Silkie Rooster ~

Splash Silkies
View attachment 2769819View attachment 2769820
~ Splash Silkie Hen ~ ~ Splash Silkie Hen (left) and Rooster (right) ~

White Silkies
View attachment 2769821View attachment 2769822
~ White Silkie Hen ~ ~ White Silkie Rooster (very good picture of his streamers) ~

Lavender Silkies
View attachment 2769827View attachment 2769828
~ Lavender Silkie Hen ~ ~ Lavender Silkie Rooster ~

Paint Silkies
View attachment 2769833View attachment 2769834
~ Paint Silkie Hen ~ ~ Paint Silkie Rooster ~

Porcelain Silkies
View attachment 2769837View attachment 2769838
~ Porcelain Silkie Hen ~ ~ Porcelain Silkie Rooster ~

~ Little Notes ~
* Blue & Lavender Silkies are rather similar, but they are two different hues of grey, classifying as two different colors.
* Red & Buff Silkies, also being very similar, but two different hues of orange.
* Paint Silkies and Splash Silkies are different colors, sometimes it is hard to tell between the two, but often paint silkies will have spots/patches of color, rather than a gradient of color throughout their fluff like splashes.


~ Sexing Silkies ~
Now, there are a lot of different ways to try and sex your silkie chicks. Some are easier than others and some are rather hard, as they can change as the chick grows. Here are some key indications for sexing your silkie chicks

Certain key points of gender are:
* Comb Size
* Feet Fluff
* Streamers
* Mane

~ Comb Size ~
Comb size is usually a big benefactor in all chickens for telling gender of a young chick or chicken. It's best to have your chicks all hatched at the same time (around the same age atleast), speaking in overall chicken sexxing, most rooster chicks will have bigger combs than their hen-siblings/chick-mates. Usually around 5 weeks. Now this goes for the majority of chicken breeds, but this isn't a fore-sure gender teller in the silkie breed.

~ Feet Fluff ~
Male silkies will tend to have fluffier feet than females. (This is a good gender indication for young chicks) though you should also keep in mind their streamers.

~Streamers ~
Male silkies around 3-5 weeks (and on) will have "streamers" on the top of their heads, streamers are protruding/stiff feathers that stand up on the chicks head, sometimes females can have this too, but they'll often lay down. If your chick looks like this:
View attachment 2769896View attachment 2769897
It's a good chance he's a rooster.

~ Mane ~
Rooster manes, these are used to ward off opposing roosters in a show of dominance.
See here:

(Ayam Cemani Roosters fighting for dominance)
This is a key difference in adult chickens.
View attachment 2769900 View attachment 2769902View attachment 2769904
This white silkie rooster has streamers visable, and a mane. This is a great example of a rooster silkie. (White, Buff, and Partridge roosters shown)

View attachment 2769907View attachment 2769901View attachment 2769906
This white silkie hen is plump and fluffy, no streamers, no mane. (White, Buff, and Partridge hens shown)

View attachment 2769924
Here is a picture and diagram of roosters (a & c) and hens (b & d) feather difference with facial appearances as well.

If you're needing more help discerning, I found this video rather helpful:

And:

If I missed anything please tell me, and I will happily add it to the guide.

Thanks,
White Valley Acres

(Isn't allowing me to edit my original post anymore)

Someone brought to my attention that I missed the color; Silver Partridge, I also found I was missing Red Pyle as well. Also that I should add chick-pics!
So here they are!


Missing Colors:

~ Red Pyle Hen, Rooster and Chick(s) ~

~ Silver Partridge Hen, Rooster and Chick(s) ~


~ Chicks! ~

~ Black Silkie Chick ~

~ Blue Silkie Chick ~

~ Lavender Silkie Chick(s) ~

~ Buff Silkie Chick ~

~ Splash Silkie Chick(s) ~

~ White Silkie Chick ~

~ Partridge Silkie Chick ~

~ Silver Partridge Silkie Chicks ~

~ Red Silkie Chick ~

~ Paint Silkie Chick(s) ~

~ Red Pyle Silkie Chick(s) ~


Here is another link to sexing silkies!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tips-on-sexing-silkies.1477252/

 

[Hannahnic14]

I'm adding pics of my week old silkies. A male and a female. (dna tested)

Partridge female - 1 week 2 days old
Her feet definitely seem to be less feathered than the male. As I get the others sexed I will see if that is a trend.

White silkie male - 1 week 2 days old
He is bigger, but I had a white female in the past that was bigger than the rest so I don't think that is relevant.
Feet are feathered more. (Sorry it's out of focus)

Wing feathers seem smoother and more developed.