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Tina Q
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Sway, Lymington (New Forest)
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 Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: Bantam Ckicks and their Combs |
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Can someone help me. I have four bantam chicks of which one is white! One has a more upright jagged comb the others are flat and wider combs. Does this tell me male and female or not?
Thanks Tina |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 14967
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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Not necessarily. What breeds(s) are they & how old?  |
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Tina Q
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Sway, Lymington (New Forest)
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:33 am Post subject: Bantam Chicks |
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| CP wrote: | | Not necessarily. What breeds(s) are they & how old? |
Originally I had a brown bantam and grey bantam. The grey died and I was given a lovely cockeral bantam. Lovely green tail and russet kneck. They are a type of silkie. From these I had one black silkie and the rest were ginger silkies. Now I have three ginger silkies and a throw back of a white silkie. These are 5 weeks old. From the bahaviour of them and comfrontation I am guesing the flat head combs are the males and I have one female. So now I may have a problem of what to do with the males.
I also have another pen with ginger silkies in and the hen of six months is sitting.
Any advice greatly received.
Tina |
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CP
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 14967
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:12 am Post subject: |
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I believe silkies are one of the most difficult to sex as youngsters.
I don't keep them so maybe someone with more expertise might be able to help.  |
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Henwife
Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 3018
Location: Monmouthshire
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| Silkies are notoriously difficult to sex. As you already have some you'll know that they have different head tufts - slicked back for the cocks and mophead for the hens. I have to say that the best way of sexing them is to leave them roaming as a complete family, with the cock. Check carefully at night. I found that the pullet chicks would be tucked under the cock's wings - his sons elsewhere. I used to ring those he cared for, and they were always pullets. He'd sexed them weeks before I could. |
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Tina Q
Joined: 29 May 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Sway, Lymington (New Forest)
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: Cocks |
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| Henwife wrote: | | Silkies are notoriously difficult to sex. As you already have some you'll know that they have different head tufts - slicked back for the cocks and mophead for the hens. I have to say that the best way of sexing them is to leave them roaming as a complete family, with the cock. Check carefully at night. I found that the pullet chicks would be tucked under the cock's wings - his sons elsewhere. I used to ring those he cared for, and they were always pullets. He'd sexed them weeks before I could. |
Thank you for that. I have actually kept mum and chicks seperate, would it be ok now to release them with the main cockeral and all be together?
Ta
Tina |
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