Buff Silkie Thread!

[Celtic Hill]

Here is a good topic to read through

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=453294

 

[ultasol]

If you lose all smut, you often lose the nice gold color and end up with blaringly white down underneath the main feathering, especially in the males. It's not too hard to get clear females that have ok color.

What I aim for is no smut in the wings. A little smut in the tail I can deal with- most breeders trim this for show. I don't like smut in the wings- I want my primaries clear, please. That said, I like the darker gold birds, but I'm not willing to have a ton of black to get it. The ideal buff in my mind is the color Jean of Pips and Peeps has on her better buff Ameraucana cocks/cockerels. I drool every time I see them in person, and they tempt me mightily (But behold! I have resisted!)

That is my goal. It's a loooooooong way off.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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On the black or blue tail feathers- ask sundown but I believe it comes from the birds being a wheaten-based buff.

I believe there are 2 types of buff. One is wheaten and the other is partridge based, I think. The birds that are wheaten based tend to be lighter, little to no smut, lighter combs, eye color, etc. But the partridge based buffs will be a darker buff color, darker combs, eyes and will have smut.

YES. Except that I do not thing the depth of the buff colour is determined by whether it is wheaten or partridge based. However, SKIN (and comb colour) are, with clearer wheaten based birds, but darker skin in partridge based ones.

 

[Gordonhillfarm]

You are all AWSOME thanks for all the good advice . I have also herd that some birds loose that smut in a good molt ? true or not ? And if their are only a few feathers you could pluck them out and sometimes they don't grow back ? ( I'm really reluctant about the last question - it kinda sounds like go head pull that gray hair only about a hundred will grow in it's place

) thanks again Tammy

 

[ultasol]

I wish they didn't grow back! But in my experience, they do grow back. However, a little judicious 'manscaping' on a cock with a couple smutty tail feathers prior to a show is typical.

 

[Muzzie]

Smut or not the Buffs are my personal favorites

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Over the course of years, they will become clearer, but I doubt that one with a lot of black will become completely clear.

 

[Darling Farms]

Some people cross their buffs back to lavenders to lighten the 'smutt' or dark feathers.

Is there any difference visually in these first generation crosses (other than the lightening)... feather shafts etc.?

We only have the one buff and she is COMPLETELY clear... just curious how the cross expressed itself.

Would there be a difference in the cross if the buff is wheaten based or partridge based? I am thinking of the variations in the isabel's...

How would you know if your buff is wheaten or partridge based and how does the difference express itself?

~ Darling Farms

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

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[Darling Farms]

Thanks Sundown~