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

[racuda]

Quote:
The ideal Silkie type is spelled out word for word in the Standard of Perfection.


Disqualifications
Bright red comb, face and wattles. Shanks not feathered down outer sides. Feathers not truly silky (except in primaries, secondaries, leg, toe, and main tail feathers.) Vulture hocks.

Standard Weights
Cock 36 oz. Hen 32 oz.
Cockerel 32 oz. Pullet 28 oz.

Shape - Male and Female

Comb
Male - Walnut - set firmly and evenly on head, almost circular in shape, preferably broader than longer, with a number of small prominences over it, a slight indentation or furrow transversely across the middle, rising at a point just forward of the nostrils and extending backwards to a point parallel with front of eyes.
Female - Walnut - very small, well formed. Rest of the description same as the male.

Color:
Non-Brd & Brd Black Deep mulberry approaching black
Non-Brd & Brd White Deep mulberry approaching black
Brd & Non-Brd Blue Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Partridge Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Buff Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Gray Deep mulberry

Beak
Short and stout, curving point.

Color:
Non-Brd & Brd Black Leaden Blue
Non-Brd & Brd White Leaden Blue
Brd & Non-Brd Blue Bluish Black
Brd & Non-Brd Partridge Bluish Black
Brd & Non-Brd Buff Slaty Blue
Brd & Non-Brd Gray Slaty Blue

Face
Surface smooth, skin fine and soft in texture.

Color:
Non-Brd & Brd Black Deep mulberry approaching black
Non-Brd & Brd White Deep mulberry approaching black
Brd & Non-Brd Blue Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Partridge Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Buff Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Gray Deep mulberry

Eyes
Large, round, prominent.

Color: Black

Wattles
Male
Non-Bearded - Medium size, concave, nearly round, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
Bearded - Very small, concealed by beard.

Female
Non-Bearded - Small, concave, forming a half circle, fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
Bearded - Small to nonexistent, concealed by beard.

Color:
Non-Brd & Brd Black Deep mulberry approaching black
Non-Brd & Brd White Deep mulberry approaching black
Brd & Non-Brd Blue Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Partridge Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Buff Deep mulberry
Brd & Non-Brd Gray Deep mulberry

Ear Lobes
Male
Non-Bearded - Small, oval, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds.
Bearded - Very small, almost concealed by muffs.

Female
Very small. Rest of the discription same as the male.

Color:
Non-Brd & Brd Black Light Blue Turquoise
Non-Brd & Brd White Light Blue Turqouise
Brd & Non-Brd Blue Turqouise Blue
Brd & Non-Brd Partridge Turqouise Blue
Brd & Non-Brd Buff Turqouise Blue
Brd & Non-Brd Gray Turqouise Blue

Crest
Male
Medium size, soft and full, as upright as comb will permit, having a few silky feathers streaming gracefully backwards from lower and back part of crest.

Female
Medium size, soft and full, globular, upright, well balanced.

Head
Modestly small, short, carried so that a line drawn parallel with tip of the tail will bisect the comb.

Beard and Muffs
Bearded varieties
Thick, full, extending back of eyes and projecting from sides of face and composed of feathers turned horizontally backwards, from both sides of the beak, from the center, vertically downwards, the whole forming a collar of three ovals in a triangular group, giving a muffed effect.

Neck
Short, gracefully arched, with very full hackle flowing well over shoulders.

Back
Male
Short, broad from shoulders to saddle, quite rounded its entire length rising gradually from middle of back towards tail.

Female
Short, broad from shoulders to cushion, quite rounded its entire length, rising gradually from middle of back towards tail.

Saddle
Male
Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round, plumage profuse and long, lower saddle feathers flowing over tips of wings and mingling with fluff.

Cushion
Rising from back at base of cape, very broad and round, plumage abundant.

Tail
Male
Short, very shredded at ends, well spread at base, filled underneath with an abundance of soft feathers which are overlapped by coverts and lesser sickles, the whole forming a duplex curve with back and saddle. Sickles, lesser sickles, and coverts – abundant, soft, well curved, without hard quills, concealing main tail feathers.

Female
Short, very shredded at ends, well spread at base, filled underneath with an abundance of soft feathers which are overlapped by cushion and coverts, the whole forming a duplex curve with back and cushion.

Wings
Medium size, closely folded, carried well back and nearly horizontal, well above lower thighs ending short of stern.
Shoulders and fronts: concealed by hackle and breast feathers.
Bows and coverts: very well rounded.
Primaries: medium length, well shredded, concealed by secondaries.
Secondaries: medium length, well shredded, tapering convexly to stern, tips concealed by saddle feathers.

Breast
Carried forward, very full, well rounded and of great depth and width.

Body and Fluff
Body of moderate length, broad, deep and well rounded from breast bone to stern and let down well between the legs.

Legs and Toes
Male
Legs: short, stout, set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower thighs: short, stout at top, tapering to hocks, abundantly feathered.
Hocks: covered with soft and silky feathers curving inwards about the hocks.
Shanks: rather short, stout in bone well feathered on outer sides with silky plumage, the upper part growing out from under thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering.
Spurs: medium size and length, set just above fifth toe.
Toes: five, the three front straight, well and evenly spread, the hind toe double, the normal toe in natural position and the extra toe placed above, starting from close to the other toe and curving upwards and backwards, the outer and middle toe well feathered.

Female
Same as male except no spur.
(Bare middle toe a serious defect in either sex.)

Skin
Dark blue

Appearance
Male
Active bold, silky and fluffy.

Female
Active, sedate, silky and fluffy

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

While the above description is the Standard of Perfection, it is by no means followed to the letter by judges. You put a pullet with a medium sized crest in a class with other pullets with huge crests and the larger crest birds will win every time.

"Type" is a subjective thing. For example...to me, good type is a birds with an S-shape body, larger and more protruding chest, wings that look like a smile from the side view and a large but balanced crest and cushion and plenty of underfluff including shank feathering. I also like a short back like the pullet below has.

Here is a picture of what, to me, is great type. However, another breeder might not completely agree and have a different definition of what "good type" is to them. This is what I strive to breed in my birds.



This picture was copied from the American Silkie Bantam Club website for educational purposes only. It is the property of ASBC.

 

[robin416]

I am one of those that does not like that large, protruding chest. They call for balance but to my eye that looks unbalanced.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
I have a blue cockerel too.
This it the pic his breeder Jen sent me. He is here now in my bedroom recovering from a long trip. He really is my doll baby!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/53862_blue_sg_k_side3.jpg

How adorable is he??????? I absolutely love Showgirls they are my favorite! I bought a super nice White Silkie Rooster from Sunshine Silkies to improve my White Showgirls. He is doing a fabulous job improving thier quality.

Here is one of my 4 mo. old pullets from him.

 

[Smoky73]

Quote:
I kind of agree with this. I like the S shape, however, I have seen some males with such an exaggerated S shape that the head practically touches the tail and the poor rooster had to stand in the corner of his cage at the show as he was constantly off balance. He always looked as though he would fall over if pushed. This was at a local show who's owner said he bought the bird from George. The rooster did not place well and I believe the owner was compleetely ticked off when all my birds placed over his one. He thought he had a sure shot with a George bird. After the show yeah, he did not talk to me at ALL!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I agree that overall balance is necessary to achieve the best look. While I do like the protruding chest...I wouldn't want it to the extreme.

 

[SilkieCRZYness]

I agree that a medium globular crest which the standard calls for does not win at shows nor catches the eye of a judge like an extremely large crest which most judges seem to like, or can I say, judges who arnt silkie gurus and only know enough about the breed to pass the judges test, which is at most shows across the country besides shows like the nationals. It's a shame.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I believe this girl had fantastic type:

(pullet on right; notice how the one on hte left has a longer back, and not quite as high a tail)

Also this one is pretty good:

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Define medium. (Or moderate, as it is listed in the standard.) It calls for a very subjective opinion. I've heard Eric Kutch say that he selects birds he feels have a moderate crest. Most folks feel that he selects birds with huge crests.

I REALLY would like to see the standard give a ratio of head (including crest):body:tail. That would be an objective standard, rather than a very arbitrary term.

There are a lot of judges who are better at some breeds than others, not just silkies.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I think the "s" shape was a good description. A silkie should look elegant. I've seen some with protruding chests that made them look like a muscular linebacker or power-lifter, not an elegant ball of fluff.