Silkie Hen vs Rooster – Comprehensive Guide

Perhaps one of today’s most distinctive species of bantam and ordinary chickens is the silkie chicken. These Chinese birds, utilized both as friends and as livestock, are widely available. Their tendency to lay eggs as a brooding platform is well recognized, and they possess unusual plumage. Silkie hens exhibit variances as they develop because, like several other birds, they are gender dimorphic. Unlike other species, it is more difficult to identify the sexes of Silkies. And it is challenging to do so in the initial stages of development. This guide will explain the distinctions between a silkie hen vs rooster. You can identify the males and females of this famous chicken species with the assistance of the details provided. Regardless of whether your goal is to expand your fleet or you perhaps want to understand more regarding their individual qualities.

Read more about the sexual identity of this breed from adulthood to young chicks.

The silkie chicken kind is distinguished by its soft, silky feathers. They are kind and submissive, have feathers that seem like velvet, and possess dark skin, to mention several traits. It might be challenging to identify the sexes of your silkie chicks at a young age since silkies develop more slowly than other species. However, from 5 to 6 months of age, it becomes much simpler to determine your silkie chicken’s gender. It’s common to desire to comprehend how your brood will function at a significantly younger age. So let’s look at the difference between a silkie hen vs rooster.

Silkie Hen vs Rooster – Everything You Need to Know

When silkies are fully grown, it’s easy to tell the difference between a hen and a rooster. Silkie roosters possess substantially more prominent crests, plumes, and transparent wattles that dip underneath their necks. Not to add that they crow and are significantly larger in stature and temperament and somewhat more muscular.

But you usually want to discover if you have a silkie hen or rooster between 1 and 8 weeks to prepare your flock. Fortunately, your silkie chicken’s gender could be determined by a few clear distinctions at different ages.

Size and Body

Among silkie hens and roosters, an apparent size variation exists in adulthood. Generally speaking, roosters are more extensive and heavier. The larger and longer feathered legs of a male silkie are more noticeable. Around six months of maturity, spurs start to appear. No spurs whatsoever develop in females. Male silkies will stand much more straight than female silkies. Furthermore, they seem to be longer than their hen equivalents. But until a baby is a minimum of 12 weeks old or older, these differences are typically not all that obvious.

Crest and Comb

Male silkies begin to develop lengthier head plumes, known as streamers, about the time they are 7 to 8 weeks old. However, female silkies have shorter crown plumes than males, giving their crest a more afro-like appearance. The comb’s form is different as well. The state of a male’s combing seems to be more U-shaped, whereas a female’s combing is far more V-shaped. Because roosters and hens later develop stunning crests, they are known as “Afro Chickens.”

Wattle

Among the most evident signs that your silkie is a rooster, despite its early period of 6 weeks, is the emergence of the wattle. You see, a silkie hen’s tufts won’t begin to develop for at least 6 to 9 months, and even then, they won’t be substantial. A silkie rooster would exhibit a visible wattle extending from its cheekbones to underneath its snout as early as six and eight weeks. It’s the simplest way to identify a silkie rooster that you own. You can tell your silkie is a hen if she is older than ten weeks and yet has no wattle.

Wings

Silkies’ main wing plumes are more noticeable in females than in males. These variations frequently become apparent after hatching. As the male bird ages, the feathers on its wing develops into a more distinct pattern. Several roosters would have smaller wings, as well.

Plumage

The rooster’s crest and neck both develop feathers. For silkie hen vs rooster, a rooster would have distinct tail plumes around 10 to 12 weeks old and stand out compared to a hen. Silkie hens do not develop any long-tail plumes at all. Sizzle chickens, which possess curled plumes all across their bodies, can be created when Silkies get the Frizzle genotype.

Behavior

Hens, in particular, are noted for being timid and peaceful, and silkie chickens are often gentle and friendly. Due to their submissive temperament, Silkies are susceptible to bullying while in a congregation with other birds.

Male Silkies can be aggressive and possessive toward their hens, much like other roosters. Male Silkies are typically considerably more muscular than hens and would frequently chest slam other guys. Around three months of development, roosters start crowing loudly as well.

Baby Silkie Chicks

The first indicator that your silkie chick is a male is that it will start to develop the streamers that would eventually form the spike at the rear of his head. Although it starts to show up at six weeks old, it becomes more evident at nine weeks. Silkie chickens would be utterly devoid of streamer plumes.
Your male silkies would also start to display wattles from behind their beaks around 8 to 10 weeks. Since silkie chickens will never develop wattles at this point, they won’t do so after they reach six months old. And it would constantly seem shorter from this point on; it is simple to tell them apart.

Bottom Line

When they are immature, silkies are infamously challenging to differentiate between the genders. However, you can readily tell when they are approximately 6 and 10 weeks old. Their wattles and banners give this away. It is because silkie roosters begin to display their wattles as early as six weeks of age. Silkie hens do not till considerably afterwards in their growth.

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