[frenchliving]

So I have breed chicks before normally cream leg bar types and by 3 months of age when the mum starts leaving them, you have a very good idea of what sex you have!

However this time we have 3 silkies, we brought the cock as a hen so I realise its very difficult to sex but at around 3 months old when the mother has left them, will the cockerel start showing an interest, to help me identify the sex! At around 4 months we commented that the cockerel was bigger than the rest but he was around 8 - 9 months old before we could actually tell??

Any tips for helping to sex them, I am not keeping any of the chicks so it will help to rehome them!

Thanks as always!

[ANHBUC]

Sorry frenchliving I don't know anything about silkies.  My bantam cockerels certainly do the mating dance around the ladies and sparring with each other from an early age.   

[8doubles]

I have seen a cock golden pheasant display to another chick at 8 days old. :blink:

It was a 'did i really see that' moment ! 

[nuzuki]

I have 2, 3 week old silkie bantams that give each other the death stare then square up to each other. They spar for about 2 mins grabbing each other by the throat then go back into staring mode. Im certain from behavior they are males.

[splash101]

It will be easier to sex the silkie chicks as they will all be the same age and you will be able to compare them against each other.
I noticed at around 8 weeks old there were significant differences. The combs and wattles in the males suddenly got much much bigger and pinker (even though the skin is dark grey / black the pinkness stil comes through). The females at 12 weeks still have no comb or wattles.

Around 10-12 weeks old, the cockerels start to get longer tufts coming out the back of their heads. Around the same age, the neck feathers on the cockerels are much longer and shaggy. They are generally much bigger and their necks seem to be twice as long. The feet are also huge compared the hens, much bigger and much thicker.

Of course, there will always be the exception to the rule and the one you definitely thought was a a female will crow 

[frenchliving]

Thanks! They all look huge already :-( I will be posting pictures no doubt in a few weeks!