Buff Silkie Pullet ^^Worth Breeding? ^Buff Silkie breeders look.

[Sonoran Silkies]

What makes you think "boy" ? Do you have a profile photo? That might change our opinions, but the photo you posted sure look feminine.

 

[Smoky73]

I agree, it looks like two pullets to me. If it was a cockerel, the comb would be much more prominiant than that. If it is a boy, its not bad, but the comb is a bit on the red side, but thats common. The lighter blue in the tail of the pullet is better than the black in the wings and on the head.
I have never seen the dark feathers on the head before either , thats odd.

If it was me, I wouldnt use the one you know is a pullet. I can forsee future black ticking in the neck feathers on the offspring, as it looks like she is starting to get some herself, but it could just be the picture too.

I would use the rooster/hen thing, whatever it turns out to be LOL.

 

[jimnjay]

I have to agree, It looks like a Pullet to me and 5 months is not to early to start showing signs of coming to lay. I have had some Silkies and almost all of my Sizzles start laying at 20 weeks.

I can sympathize with you and your Buff Rooster concern. I bought two from a great breeder and friend. She was sure at 3 months they were roosters. Turns out they were both pullets. It is hard to tell sometimes.

As far as whether to use the first one or not, I can tell you I was desperate for a buff rooster summer before last. I bought a boy that had good form and toes, fair foot feathering but had dark ticks all over. I bought him from a eggbid auction and I was able to pick him us so I did not have the cost of shipping to consider. He was not what I considered good potential for a breeder but he actually threw some nice chicks with a clear hen. I was very surprised. You might try using your girl see if the chicks are an improvement over the mom and if so proceed on. We all get our start by breeding the best we have. If you can even get one nice chick to use it might get you a step further along than you are now.

I hope your second chicken turns out to be the rooster you are hoping for. I hatched a bunch of Buffs in December and I am seeing some serious roosters in the group. Let me know if your birds lays an egg and I might have something you can use. I usually give the extra boys away so you could get him for shipping charges.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Then maybe it is a hen. I dont know. I do see small wattles though, that is what is making me think rooster. I do have another silkie that I know is a rooster, so i could always use him. I think I will try and breed her, and see what the chicks turn out to look like. If they are bad, then I will sell them, or keep the hens as broodies. I guess it doesnt hurt to try.

I do have another pullet. She is almost all clear, but she does have split wing, so im not sure if I want to use her. I might use her, and then keep the best chicks.


And yes, that pullet does have some black neck ticking.]

Smokey73: That was another reason why I was thinking that it was a male, because the comb is on the red side, which I have heard is common in buff roosters. Also, could I still show a rooster with a red comb, or is that at DQ or would they just take points off? Also, will you be selling any buff hatching eggs this spring?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How red is red? Every judge will see it a bit differently, and judge accordingly. Red is a DQ.

Buff females also have too red combs at times, but it tends to be a bigger issue with the males. Since they are different lines, it could be that the line with the bird in question simply doesn't have as dark combs. Wattle are not necessarily a sign of a roo--no bearded silkie is supposed to have much in the way of wattles, but many have small ones--even some with very full beards.

As for the split wing--try it, but be prepared to turn the hen and offspring into broodies if it replicates too much.

Everyone would like to have the perfect birds to breed from, but quite frankly, the perfect bird only exists in our minds and on paper--not in the real world. We all breed from what we have.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Its not bright red. it just has a reddish tint to it, its not really that bad. The wattles are very very tiny.

I will try the hen with the split wing, and if it shows up on the chicks, then I will turn the her and the offspring into broodies.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The "boy" in question? Doesn't look red to me--perhaps not as dark as I'd prefer, but well within the description of "mulberry."

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Well, thats good news. Thanks

I guess that I have a lot to learn, and I look foward to learning as much as I can about the buff silkies.


ETA: Do you breed buffs?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Yes, but at the moment have no roos--so my girls are in with a ginger red and a gorgeous coppery coloured silkieX

We'll see how the experiment goes until I can find a good buff roo.

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

thats 2 females lol