Starbirds Chickens

[ozu]

I love it! Following to see how they turn out!
I have a designer chicken project going here. I have a Spitzhauben/Sebright mix I call Sprights, which I really like. I am going to cross them back to a Spitzhauben this year to see what the 3/4 Spitz will be like, and if I can eliminate broodiness. But also raise some bantam blue Ameraucana this year to add beards and blue eggs to the mix. I really like the compact sized hens.
View attachment 3446622

Thank you so much!
The patterns on your Sprights are going to be beautiful, can't wait to see the 3/4 Spitz. Will you keep the black/white, or will you be introducing other colors? If you have a thread for yours, I'd love to follow along. My boyfriend especially likes Sebrights. Love that you'll be adding beards and blue eggs!

 

[ozu]

Interesting project! Which chicks are you looking to keep for breeding?

Thank you!

I'm not sure yet- I'd like to see their adult plumage before I completely decide.. but the lightest of the Silkie x Easter Egger mixes is one we are really interested in so far. Unfortunately I am already predicting it to be a rooster. (Which is my luck- I hatched quail and my entire first batch were roosters lol.)

Oh, I can't forget that the whole family is absolutely enamored with the OEGB x Easter Egger. We're calling that one "Beez" (as in, Zeeb backwards).. and hoping it's a hen. I have some possible routes I would take this one!

You've got me thinking a lot on these! Can't wait to see what ones are keepers to start planning which hatching I'll do next.. if only they grew as fast as quail.

 

[ozu]

I love your silkie mixes! Following. Also your first blue X _ chick looks kind of like how mine did, so maybe she’ll look like this.
View attachment 3446623
View attachment 3446625

Your little one does look really similar! Has that one grown up? If so, what does the plumage look like? If not, I'd love to see an adult update later!

Thank you! I'm quite fond of how they look so far. A Silkie x Easter Egger mix was my original goal, 10 years ago, and now I'm just taking it further! I believe dad of the light one must be Wheaten, since he looked the exact same as a baby.. but ended up looking so different!

The feathers coming in on the light EE chick!

And this is what Wheaten looked like growing up!

To now!​

 

[ozu]

Following!!!
If you don’t already know this the Silkie cross chicks you hatched won’t have Silkie feathers. If you breed the Silkie crosses together or to another Silkie then you’ll get silkie feathered chicks.

Thank you! Yep- no silkie feathering at all in this batch besides the chicks I purchased.. I can't wait to bring the Silkie feathering in next batch! Thank you for making sure and looking out!

The light Silkie x Easter Egger and it's very normal feathers

​

 

[fluffycrow]

Since your goals seem to be a fibro bird with feathered legs and muffs I would focus on the feathered legs for now because they seem to be the less prominent trait showing up in your chicks right now

 

[ozu]

Since your goals seem to be a fibro bird with feathered legs and muffs I would focus on the feathered legs for now because they seem to be the less prominent trait showing up in your chicks right now

I agree, thank you! I will take your advice and work on that!
Hoping Deeby can get his chance next batch.

 

[Nero70002]

Your little one does look really similar! Has that one grown up? If so, what does the plumage look like? If not, I'd love to see an adult update later!

Thank you! I'm quite fond of how they look so far. A Silkie x Easter Egger mix was my original goal, 10 years ago, and now I'm just taking it further! I believe dad of the light one must be Wheaten, since he looked the exact same as a baby.. but ended up looking so different!

The feathers coming in on the light EE chick!
View attachment 3446808

And this is what Wheaten looked like growing up!
View attachment 3446809
View attachment 3446814
View attachment 3446815
View attachment 3446816
View attachment 3446817
View attachment 3446820
To now!​

I’ll update you, but on Friday they’ll be 6 weeks old, the second pic is the updated one. Her name is Bee.

 

[SueT]

Thank you so much!
The patterns on your Sprights are going to be beautiful, can't wait to see the 3/4 Spitz. Will you keep the black/white, or will you be introducing other colors? If you have a thread for yours, I'd love to follow along. My boyfriend especially likes Sebrights. Love that you'll be adding beards and blue eggs!

I do like them all in black and white. But the plan is to get some bantam self-blue ameraucanas. When I try the ‘chicken color calculator’, entering the blue crossed w silver laced, it says half will be black and half will be blue laced, same for both sexes. That sounds intriguing.

http://kippenjungle.nl/Overzicht.htm#flexcalculator

 

[NagemTX]

Following! Very interesting too. I'm working on getting my project going as well and what your doing is encouraging to me.

 

[ozu]

I’ll update you, but on Friday they’ll be 6 weeks old, the second pic is the updated one. Her name is Bee.

Thank you! How exciting! Bee is such a cute name. We named the baby OEGB x EE, Beez... they can be soul sisters or something, haha!