How to raise Backyard Chickens: [CHICKENS-101] How do you tell if it is a cockerel?

Thursday, May 2, 2013

[CHICKENS-101] How do you tell if it is a cockerel?

I have a bunch of Bantams bought from Murray MacMurray Hatchery. They were hatched March 15.

Of the bunch, I have 4 frizzled Cochins, 17 Silkies and one mystery chick.

I bought Frizzled Cochins but one didn't make it. All five were frizzled, which makes me think that it was from a frizzle to frizzle cross. One frizzle has lush feathers and looks like a miniature turkey. He is obviously male. The other three have very sparse feathering. I suspect they are genetically double frizzle. Of the other three, two seem to be male. Their combs are much smaller than the obviously male one, but they are red. The fourth has the smallest comb and it is yellow.

My little turkey Cochin is really quite cute and I am in a real quandary of what to do with him. If I am sitting on the ground in a pen with them and catch up one of the chicks, he will run right over to investigate, often jumping on my lap. He is seeming to exhibit protective rooster characteristics. His comb is by far the largest and the reddest.

The Silkies have a mix of a walnut combs and a pea combs. Some seem to have a more developed comb than others. Some are starting to spare with the little "turkey" frizzled Cochin--they face off, crouching down and leaning forward with their neck feathers flared. Would a pullet do that kind of sparing?

I found this, below, on Backyard Chickens. Does it apply to Silkies?

"According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.
2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs The cockerels legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail The cockerels tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers."

Any tips on telling the difference between the sexes in the Silkies?

Thanks,

Janet