CallyChook Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 (edited) Oh no.... bought two white minitaure silkies last month, and one of them is looking more and more like a boy. Maud has been bigger that Mildred but as the breeder has 1000+ chickens, I assumed maybe different parents. But that comb is getting bigger, and the face furniture is surely as large as it should be. No crowing or laying happening yet, I guess I'll just have to wait, but with a few boys already in the pen and of my own hatching, if Maud is Mr Maud I'm affraid there's simply no room at the Inn. pray that she's just a tomboy.... will keep updated! If it stops raining I'll add some photos this afternoon too. Edited September 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 How old are they? Silkies are notoriously hard to sex! you should be able to tell at about 20 weeks safely but of course someone who breeds a lot of them is probably more expert and will know earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 How old are they? Silkies are notoriously hard to sex! you should be able to tell at about 20 weeks safely but of course someone who breeds a lot of them is probably more expert and will know earlier supposedly they're about POL, 20ish weeks he said! just uploading some photies now, will pop them onto photobucket and then post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 ok doke, so... here's Mildred, the smaller one who seems more henny even her hairdo seems a bit swept back to me now and Maud, the ?? Mr Maud... hmmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Crikey, I'm no use whatsoever despite having hatched Silkies - they look both look like boys to me!! I just cant sex Silkies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 I'm beginning to really stress, as I see my hens as pets and always try to really bond with them... so the thought of having to send them both away.... oh no!! I think it really will have to be a case of waiting for eggs or crowing then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 Mildred I'm not 100% sure about but I'd say Maud is a boy. Mildred looks quite boyish and where there are more than one young boy, one will always look less manly as the dominant one grows head gear faster, which would explain why Mauds comb isn't as impressive. Regardless, they are really nice examples of the breed, stunning shade of blue on those lobes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 I'd say boy. Thats exactly how my Silkie cockerel looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieD Posted September 16, 2010 Share Posted September 16, 2010 i would say both boys if i had to have a guess the comb is definately boy like on the second one- my hen has almost no comb and on the first the hairdo has the boy tassles sweeping back. good luck xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 16, 2010 Author Share Posted September 16, 2010 oh poo. I guess it's just a waiting game, but I might try not to fall any more in love with them :'( easier said than done. I dont have the space to split the garden any further, and definitely not the money to provide both with wives and a home! I just hope the breeder will not be too problematic about swapping or refunding, I paid £25 each for them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 18, 2010 Author Share Posted September 18, 2010 well, I'm about 99% sure Maud is Monty. Tried phoning the breeder I got them from today but with no luck, I'll try again later. I hope he is nice about me wanting to return or refund! Such a shame I can't keep him, he is very beautiful... but I have to stop somewhere or I may as well just block the garden into 6'x6' squares and become a cockerel rescue sanctuary the number of them I have now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallyChook Posted September 19, 2010 Author Share Posted September 19, 2010 Well, I took Maud back last night :'( The breeder was totally understanding about it, and spent a long time making sure the replacement was a girlie! As yet she's unnamed, but she is firmly a female and almost in lay. She's not pure white, but a dirty lemon and white - but I don't care, she's a girlie!!! Since she and the other white silkie Mildred are the only mature hens in the pen, I thought I might do a direct introduction, which so far has been without problems inso far as no bullying pecking or changes to the dynamics, with one exception Now face with a POL lady, Mildred has found his desires and hopped on to tread her within minutes of meeting! Grrrr I knew I should have taken Mildred back too, but he has such a small comb in comparison to Maud, I thought I'd best give him/her the benefit of the doubt!!! Oh well, time to save up for another coop and put Mildred (now needing a new name) and the nameless new lady in together, with maybe (just maybe) my orpie Morgana as she is being bullied with the big folk at the moment. We'll see. While the other boys in the pen are immature, I'll leave well alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
