Black silkies

[bethbug74]

You will be fighting that comb for a long time.  Is there a reason that you cannot use both, separating the paint pen into two pens, and pairing by which paint's traits best complement each boy?  If I had to choose, it would be the smaller boy.  His comb and wings are better, and so is his stance.  He is more balanced.

I just don't have room for two pens to do this black backcross.

How exactly are the smaller guys wings "better"? They look exactly the same to me...

Will that droopy cushion fill out, you think? That really makes his stance look weird...like his tail is tucked between his legs.

Is there any merit to the fact that the smaller guy took longer to mature?

Is that crest looking ok on the little guy?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:

Hey guys, I breed Paint Showgirls. I have acquired two pretty Black Silkies (supposedly TRUE black birds, not from other pairings), and I THINK I have decided on the best one to use to help improve silkie type and close skin and eye pigment holes with Paint Silkies and Showgirls. These birds are both about 6 months old, now.

Can anyone give me some feedback on which one YOU think looks nicer? The guy on the right in the first pic started crowing first, and has a much nicer crest, cushion, and foot feathering, but his comb isn't as compact at the boy on the left. This could very well be a factor of his quicker maturation, however. They have BOTH started crowing now, but the shorter guy (he has always weighed a but less, as well) doesn't bother much, as they live together and he is clearly subordinate. I have never seen him mount a lady, either, out of deference to his brother. The bigger guy is certainly not TOO big, just heavier than his brother. They are both nice compact birds. Short guy generally seems goofier than his bigger brother, as well - just not as aware of what's going in....his crest gets in his eyes more, though, so he may very well just not be able to see very well. What characteristics should I favor more? I need to move the less typey dude to a pet home asap to make sure I know who daddy is with the Paints. I have pretty much decided on the bigger guy just for that cushion and good stance, but want to make sure I'm choosing correctly.



Bigger fellow's comb isn't as compact as I want it to be, but is proportional and not humongous:


Smaller guy's comb is much more compact, and I HAVE heard him crow, so may stay pretty tiny:


His foot feathering and crest and cushion just aren't as good, in my opinion:

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I, personally, like the smaller cockerel better. In. The pictures, to me, it looks like he holds his wings higher and tighter. Also, at only 6 months old, I'd still expect both of them to fill out more. I'd also expect the smaller boys tail to come up.
I like boys with small combs, but other prefer them larger. One thing I have noticed with my smaller combed boys is that they take longer to start being boys. I always feel like I wait forever for fertile eggs. My current cockerel is almost 5 months old, and he still looks long in the back but his tail has come up compared to what he looked like last month.
*I* would keep them both for a little while longer. I really think that smaller guy is going to surprise you

 

[bethbug74]

Ok, looks like the consensus is on the smaller guy. He was originally my favorite, personality-wise, anyhow. I'll send the bigger dude off to another home soon. Now that I am watchin every day, the smaller guy does seem to be fluffing up the tail a bit more, and I see new pinfeathers in there this week. I think with his bigger brother gone, adn all the lades to himself, he will do more boy things pretty quickly. Thanks for the input guys!

 

[CarolinaHen]

We hatched six of these cuties this week

 

[JLaw]

 

[bethbug74]

Anyone have any interest in a black showgirl cockerel? Thought he was a she, now he needs a flock of his own. PM me

 

[mylittlechicken]

What you all think about my Black Silkie Pullet? I was thinking about showing her next year. Just would like to hear some opinions from you all.

 

[Feathersprings]

Ok, looks like the consensus is on the smaller guy. He was originally my favorite, personality-wise, anyhow. I'll send the bigger dude off to another home soon. Now that I am watchin every day, the smaller guy does seem to be fluffing up the tail a bit more, and I see new pinfeathers in there this week. I think with his bigger brother gone, adn all the lades to himself, he will do more boy things pretty quickly. Thanks for the input guys!

Just dropped in to read some posts. Glad you decided on the smaller one. I picked him right off from your pictures . Nicer balance , I actually like his tail better as well as the wing set and comb. I was glad to see that my thoughts were the same as others while reading through replies.

 

[kculbert]

Happy New Year everyone! I just attended my first poultry show and fell in love with the silkies, particularly the black ones.

I am looking for someone with a black silkie pullet or hen for sale. I live in Houston, TX and am willing to drive a couple of hours for the right bird. Looking for a friendly girl who will make a good pet. I will not be breeding her so she doesn't need to be "show quality" but she does need to be bearded and fluffy and preferably on the large side. Please pm me if you can help!

Thanks,

Kimberly