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

[ultasol]

They are still way too young to think about deciding if the bird is a show bird. To me, they look like three boys, but they are even too young to accurately sex.

 

[bantam0907]

Quote:
lol, i thought the same thing when i was looking at your pictures, its crest is very oblong where a pullets would be more circular...

 

[The Lisser]

Quote:
lol, i thought the same thing when i was looking at your pictures, its crest is very oblong where a pullets would be more circular...

Okay, thanks for explaining this. "She" still has a flat comb (where as the one with the cross beak - his comb popped out at 4 weeks old), and the white one also squats a lot . . . but I guess I'll find out for sure sooner or later!
Thanks!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Haven't read the whole thread yet, but the first thing is to get good type. The saying is "build the barn first, then paint it."

Unwanted recessive traits are easier to get "rid" of by breeding in the dominant trait. However, they can continue to pop up for many generations, especially if the gene pool for the variety is small. Dominant traits are more difficult to get rid of, but once they are gone, they are gone.

In my opinion, first you want body type. All else comes after that. If you cannot afford excellent stock to begin with, find birds who have great type, but have DQs or faults that lower their $ cost. Try to get birds that complement each other. If one has poor or missing toes, the other should have good to excellent toes. If one is lacking crest, the other should have an abundant crest. Etc.

Expect that it will take years to breed poorer quality birds into good ones, and the cost to raise babies until you can determine whether they will be an asset or detriment to your project can make it as, or more expensive than purchasing good birds to start with, although the expense is spread out over a larger timeframe.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

As Ultasol said...don't even think about sexing them yet. My lavender pullet (who is NOT laying yet...still on scholarship) looked every bit like a cockerel until she was at least 4 months old. She even "acted" boyish. Then, all of a sudden the front of her crest began to fill out and she took on a much more feminine look.

Again, you will get a lot of do's and don'ts from folks.

I have done extensive research into cross-beak in juvenile birds and the bottom line is that no one knows exactly the cause. Genetics? Maybe.... Pollutants? Maybe... Injury? Maybe. Same thing with wry neck. No one really knows exactly what causes it, but everyone is an expert

 

[bantam0907]

Quote:
lol, i thought the same thing when i was looking at your pictures, its crest is very oblong where a pullets would be more circular...

Okay, thanks for explaining this. "She" still has a flat comb (where as the one with the cross beak - his comb popped out at 4 weeks old), and the white one also squats a lot . . . but I guess I'll find out for sure sooner or later!
Thanks!

Sorry pic heavy!
Here are some pictures of my silkies at different ages if that helps... The white is a hen and the cuckoo is a roo.
couple weeks....

[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0410.jpg[/URL][/img
Couple months
[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0410.jpg

1 year +

 

[The Lisser]

Quote:
Could you please explain or give me an example of correct "type"? And perhaps an example of poor type? I am guessing good type is a proud, S-shaped stance? I know what "type" is in llamas, but I'm afraid I don't know zip about type in silkies!

Thank you!

 

[Smoky73]

with the cross beak, you could possibly be able to correct it if you watch it very closely, trim the top and bottom and file sides if needed so it fits better. I have some get better, sometimes it is just that they are getting good nutrition (not born like that) and the beak is growing fast and it needs attention. Like fingernails and hair grow super fast if you are taking a lot of vitamins. If one of the halves grows faster than the other, it could cause it to start growing wonky.

 

[Nat123]

Quote:
Okay, thanks for explaining this. "She" still has a flat comb (where as the one with the cross beak - his comb popped out at 4 weeks old), and the white one also squats a lot . . . but I guess I'll find out for sure sooner or later!
Thanks!

Sorry pic heavy!
Here are some pictures of my silkies at different ages if that helps... The white is a hen and the cuckoo is a roo.
couple weeks....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0072.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0069.jpg
[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0410.jpg[/img
Couple months
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_sspx0410.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_img_7559.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_img_8880.jpg
1 year +
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_img_8845.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_img_8900.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_izetta_copy.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/57908_evan.jpg

WOW! I love those pics! Do you eat those kind of chickens?

 

[featherbaby]

NO!!! These Silkies are not for food, they are for visual beauty and sweet loving temperments. Their skin, meat and bones are black, no matter what the feather color. They have earned the reputation of being very good broodies and mothers, and are called the "lapdogs of the chicken world". Mine have their own personalities and love to be held and petted. I have a firm rule: I don't eat anything I've named! Some people may consider them just breeding stock, but I see them as precious pets.