How to Tell If You Have a Boy Silkie

Sexing day-old chicks requires either the use of venting or feathering. Vent sexing is a visual identification. The handler looks at the sex organs of the silkie chick and says "male" or "female." Feathering is a visual sexing determination based on the chick's feathers. The wing pinfeather is longer on males. Vent sexing is an immediate determination while feather sexing has to wait until the check grows feathers.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass (optional)
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the chick as it starts to grow feathers. Males have longer wing pinfeathers.

    • 2

      Ask a chicken handler with a skilled eye to look at the chicks. The difference in feather length is subtle, but visible to a trained eye.

    • 3

      Pick up a day old chick and look where its reproductive organs are on the underside. A male duck one day old has not formed a male sex organ yet.

    • 4

      Watch the silkie chicks grow to maturity. The accuracy of sexing a silkie at full maturity is 100 percent. Males will not brood and lay eggs, but females will.