Black silkies

[silkieluver_07]

I plan on keeping a seperate pen of blacks only this spring. I will also have a blue, black, and splash pen plus a project partridge pen. I just love the green beetle sheen in the black silkies. Most of my blacks came from Amy this past spring. Only two of my males out of thirty some birds had the horns/spikes. Suprisingly only three out of the seven boys had bleeding in the hackle as well and all my pullets were clear. Im going to be focusing on getting black shafts all the way up into the wing, seems like a couple of my girls are light in this area. Other than that, the birds I've gotten from Any have been the best I've ever raised.

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:
I have to find the article I kept on this.... It has something to do with the hormone balance affecting the melanizers. Age and stress on the bird affect the hormone levels and thus the coloration too. I remember reading about it last year after my cock from Premier molted out with gold in the hackles all of a sudden. He was jet black when I bought him and threw multiple sons that were also jet black.

Direct sunlight will also bleach them out to an extent.

 

[ultasol]

I don't personally think it's barbaric, but there are people.....

I have told someone I will eat my culls sometimes and had them look at me like I killed bigbird. If I don't eat them, someone else will. If I take them to auction or sell them somewhere, I don't know how they will be treated.

Really, it's not a big deal. Do the chicks peep? Yes, same as, as sonoran says, a kid would cry when they get their ears pierced or get a vaccination. Are they permanently harmed or have I seen any deleterious long term effects? Heck no.

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:
This is exactly the kind of feedback I love to hear....the good and the bad. This is what helps me decide exactly which pairings are working the best. I sent everything from pretty much 2 weeks of hatching to Hannah. The PQ culls were sent along as packing peanut freebies. I know which of my males was being used right then and can look back on the records for which females he was with. I only have so much room in my own growout pens....

 

[ultasol]

You have nice birds Amy. I've recommended you to many people. Are you still shipping chicks the same way?

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:
Definitely agree on this.... We gotta remember that chickens are livestock. I haven't tried the toepunch yet, but I have been wingbanding at 2 weeks of ago just to keep track before they hit the big brooder pens. 99% of the time there is no blood and after an hour or so of acting a little miffed, they get over it. Not much different than eartags or notching on pigs and cattle. Its just a means of identification.

I also believe in culling hardcore. Not every single bird is worthy as breeding stock. I sell as many as I can to pet homes and the rest go to my Asian friends for eating. Space is limited and feed prices are constantly going up..... I can't justify keeping the birds if they aren't usefull.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Amy~~if you come across the article R/T the brown hue I'd love to read it. I had heard about the sun possibly causing it, but here in the mountains, the way my pens/runs are situated, my birds get very little sunlight

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:
I will be later this spring.... Way too risky right now with temps below 0 most of the time. I'm also filling my own growout pens yet too. I didn't end up with many fatalities last year using my method. I send only via USPS Express mail even on the newly hatched. I put handwarmers in the bedding and rig up a cup with fruit and wetted starter mash. I can fit up to about 25-30 chicks in one of the standard boxes. Its a bit more spendy than Priority, but we have peace of mind knowing where that package is at along the route. Express is almost always there within 2 days, whereas Priority is anywhere from 2-10 days.

Oh yeah....I also got a call from Marjorie Best last week. Western Nationals is April 16-17th in WA. Oh man.... if only I knew how these next few months are going to be. My baby is due roughly March 10th and I should still be on maternity leave. If I pop early and all goes well, its so tempting to try and drive/fly out there. If the lil fart holds out or if my health doesn't cooperate, then who knows... I would like to donate for the silkie awards at least somehow. The oldest babies in my growout pens are less than 2 months right now and I don't know how they will turn out yet. April is still awful chilly for shipping younger chicks too. I could at least do some cash awards. Who would I need to get ahold of for that?
Amy

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:
Here is an awesome thread on how stress will affect birds (including hormone levels):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=431263

Here is a thread where its showing how the sun can bleach out black orp's to the point that they almost look chocolate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=5236213

I know this is a common occurance with most animals. Back when I showed horses, we fed a supplement called Black as Night and kept any of the blacks under sheets and slinkies to prevent them fading out to a seal brown. I have some chocolate muscovies that I didn't even reconize by last fall. They had faded out to almost a tan color and they looked rather funny when molting. Even your buff birds will fade out to a light creamy color.

here's a thread about how age affects color:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=420439

I know I had an another article somewhere on how testosterone levels affect color, but can't find it right now.

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

Want a good laugh. I started this thread and forgot to subscribe to it

I just thought no one was interested and here you are Thanks for all the great information !