Breeding silkies/chickens - have some questions **PICS ADDED page 2**

[CheshieChick13]

Like was said I think the vaulted skull preference depends on the breeders tastes. I personally like a small vault. I have seen some silkie chicks who look down right deformed with insane skull vaults! Like someone else said I would rather not see chicks with that extreme either. They are more fragile due to the vault. Mine hatch with slight to no vaulting. I'll show you a pic or two when I get to my computer.
~Steph

 

[muddyhorse]

you can tell if they have a vault by looking at them. I don't breed for it either it just happens. one chick has a vault the other does not

 

[NewToFarming]

Can you see like a depression in the skull? I really don't know if mine have them or not but yes, the pics would be great! Thank you!

 

[CheshieChick13]

These are three week old Gray/Lavender split chicks from the same clutch. Keep in mind some of the "vault" on the second one is quite a bit of fluff coming in.

No Vault

The Most Vault I usually get or want

 

[CheshieChick13]

Quote:
Its a bump shape on the top of the skull.

 

[NewToFarming]

Oh my! I think my new little chick might have a vaulted skull. I thought it was the poof already. Thank you so much! My there is always something to learn on these silkies, isn't there!!

Does this look like a vaulted one?

 

[featherbaby]

Here is an interesting article about vaulted skulls and how Silkies have a hole in their skulls. Large vaults mean more brain is exposed without the protection of the skull. Obviously, these are more easily brain damaged. http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html (see menu on the left of this page and choose 'Silky Skull' for the article)

 

[CheshieChick13]

Quote:
Looks like a vault to me. There are some out there that WOW are crazy, they look like their entire brain is sitting above the skull. That's just way to much for me.
Great article featherbaby! I love browneggblue eggs articles!

 

[NewToFarming]

Wow! I love that site. There is lots of stuff on there to help us newbies! Thanks!

Very interesting about the vaulted skull. Now I know to keep an extra close eye on that little one. Thank goodness he is bigger than the other 2 with him, so they won't be pecking him on the head. I will have to make the poor little thing a helmet!!

LOL

 

[The Lisser]

Sorry to repeat myself, but can someone with experience in breeding silkies please describe a good "type" in a silkie? and maybe what constitutes bad type?

Thanks.