Black Silkie Combs and other silkie standards for newbies

[MrsChicky55]

I've got some Silkie/satin/frizzle eggs in my incubator right now from a well known breeder. She has beautiful birds! I'd like to show them with my 4-H'er. I don't know too much about the breeding standard, but the one major flaw that I've noticed in her pics are some red/pink combs. I was hoping to learn more about how to darken up the comb and walnut shape if anyone has any recommendations. I'm guessing that red flaw is one of the "cochin traits" she mentioned from working with the sizzles. I thought maybe if I could find a breeder with straight up silkies (meaning no frizzled cochin added) with really dark combs like this that hopefully I could get the best of both worlds. Fluff & frizzle with black comb! Anyone know of somebody with birds with black combs like this that sells hatching eggs? Or other recommendations to improve the comb?

If any breeders could give me tips on what else I should be looking for or working on to get show quality birds with this breed I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

These are some of the beautiful birds from the breeder I'm currently hatching eggs from. She's working on F20 and seems to have a focus on Satins (sizzles) and getting them recognized as a breed.

P.S. I know that they are supposed to be able to see but those fluffy crests are just so pretty I couldn't resist!

 

[MrsChicky55]

Do you think that eggs would make it from Cali to Kentucky? I would love to have some pretty silkies. I could show and learn from.

Shari shipped mine from CA to the farthest recesses of WA. Granted not as far. My eggs were in great shape. Lost 2 for sure to shipping crack, & aircell.Fertility was low this time of year though. However, I️ will say I️ ordered a dozen eggs & got 13 chicks!!!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Check MPC. They have quality Silkie pullets, chicks, and hatching eggs. Good luck!

 

[MrsChicky55]

Unfortunately I've yet to see an available date for silkies on MPC. I'm really looking to find a breeder that has great combs. Even if they're not for sale, I'd love to see some pics of people's silkie combs!

 

[MrsChicky55]

Who is MPC?

My Pet Chicken

 

[jandsferguson]

Unfortunately I've yet to see an available date for silkies on MPC. I'm really looking to find a breeder that has great combs. Even if they're not for sale, I'd love to see some pics of people's silkie combs!

I don’t know how to upload pics son here but I also have silkies. I would love to know what kind mine are I have furred, ones with feathers and ones that curl up. However I have no idea how to do pics. :-(. I would also like to find some nice silkies of different colors. The ones with fur that is. I ordered some that I thought would have fue but they didn’t come with fur they came with feathers. I was a bit disappointed. However I did find some very dark partridge with fur. I mean how do you find out before you order what type of feathers they will have. I feel like I was tricked. :-( however I would love some more “breeder quality” or show birds.

 

[jandsferguson]

I don’t know how to upload pics son here but I also have silkies. I would love to know what kind mine are I have furred, ones with feathers and ones that curl up. However I have no idea how to do pics. :-(. I would also like to find some nice silkies of different colors. The ones with fur that is. I ordered some that I thought would have fue but they didn’t come with fur they came with feathers. I was a bit disappointed. However I did find some very dark partridge with fur. I mean how do you find out before you order what type of feathers they will have. I feel like I was tricked. :-( however I would love some more “breeder quality” or show birds.

I was just on MPC and they have some lavender silkies for sale on Nov 13. I don’t know if anyone is still looking.

 

[MrsChicky55]

A few months back I spoke to the owner of California Country Ranch, Sheri Minkner. She sells silkie eggs. She raises show quality silkies. I haven't ordered any eggs yet though. But check out her Facebook and website. She was very helpful and answered all my questions and seemed like a stickler for silkie standards. She actually wasn't sure if she wanted me to have any of her eggs because I live in California too and if I planned on showing, she didn't want to compete with her own birds!

Her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaCountryRanchPoultryAndWaterfowl/

Her website: http://californiacountryranch.blogspot.com/p/silkie-chicks-all-ages-show-and-pet.html

Shari is very helpful that way. She has a lot of info and I️ love picking her brain on the finer details. I️ refer to her about the deeper questions. These simple details are easy about the basic genetics of silkies and sizzles are all over the Internet and easy to access. I️ bought my eggs from Shari & hatched some gorgeous chicks, very happy.

 

[MrsChicky55]

If you can, post a picture of your favorite silkie from her!

I have to pick just one?

I’d add more but my blacks & whites aren’t really photographing well right now so I had deleted them.

 

[MrsChicky55]

They are flipping adorable! Is the second picture a sizzle? I've never seen a chick with that many feathers. They look like so much fun.

Yeah, that’s Lacey, one of my sizzles or satins whatever you want to call them. She’s got her wing expanded so she’s really showing off her curls there. But she really is super curly. I’ve got a black that’s that curly too (the feathers are soft & supple). My third sizzle isn’t quite as frilly but still super cute.