Boy or Girl

[sorrelsmum]

These Silkie bantams are 30 weeks old now, can anyone tell me that they are 2 hens. The non bearded one is larger than the other, both are gorgeous.

 

[Lordcluck]

Hmmm, I'd say both pullets looking at their crests and the lack of development in the wattles of the beardless bird, but Silkies can be tough to sex accurately, some can keep you guessing right up til they start crowing or pop their first egg!

 

[ncotb]

I will say they are girls, but as lordcluck says some do keep you guessing right up til they start crowing or lay!Fingers crossed for you.

 

[sorrelsmum]

Thnk you both for your replies. i have really been bitten by the Silkie bug and dont know wether to wait until next year to see if they go broody and buy some silkie eggs or just buy some more now. Going to look at a garden centre tomorrow that also has hens, its at Ingleton in lancs....will need to be strong!

 

[Lordcluck]

You can almost guarantee that they will go broody! stopping them is usually the problem! If you can stand to, I would suggest holding fire on buying Garden Centre birds. From what I've seen, their prices are vastly inflated and they have little or no knowledge of what they are selling.
The Silky breed club will be able to put you in touch with breeders of quality birds, many of which will not only have stock for sale, but will be able to offer useful advice on the breed, and they are not usually in the game to sell birds for vast profit margins!
Other than that, Pet silky breeders often offer birds for sale on Forums like this.

 

[Marigold]

I agree strongly with Lordcluck's advice. Unless you intend to show your birds, you will probably not be too worried about the finer points of conformation, therefore you will probably be happy with 'pet quality' birds that look pretty but wouldn't make it in the show world. But you do want to know that any birds you buy are healthy, have been well cared for, and not exposed to the stresses of a move to what in many cases is an unsuitable outlet with non-specialist keepers for the birds. Moving home is stressful for chickens at the best of times, it depresses their immune systems, and it's common for birds to go down with illnesses thay might have avoided if the introductions had been done carefully and stock had been sourced directly from a reliable breeder, without any move to somewhere else in between. Any additions you make will need to be kept separate in quarantine for 2-3 weeks, and also introduced carefully to avoid bullying and stress. Also, this is perhaps not the best time of year to be buying new chickens, - maybe get the birds you have now through the winter, all the rain, cold, snow, winds etc, and see what you feel like doing in the Spring, when maybe you could consider some chicks.

 

[sorrelsmum]

Thanks for your replies. I will hold off until next year and if they dont go broody, will source some pullets.

 

[valeriebutterley]

Don't you just love Silkies?
I have 3 gowers, about 8-9 weeks old, all, hopefully, girls, all white, one bearded.
They are just georgeous, lovely natures, feisty, surprisingly heavy for such littlies, and strong.
All the best with your beautiful birds.