critique my Silkies type?

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[EnnerM97]

i’m new-ish to Silkies and would like to breed towards SOP. i’ve read and read and read, but haven’t comprehended much - i’m a hands-on/picture type learner. while i do notice some faults in my birds, im curious as to what good & bad others see in them, so i can apply it to future birds, in deciding who has proper type to go into the breeding pens. thank you! (photos in comments)

 

[Debbie292d]

They look a little young to be judging, at least all I know for critiquing is with adults.

The first, most critical, is that their skin has to be black.

The second most critical is that they must have five toes, with a clear separation between them, and the fifth should face backward.

Eyes should be dark brown or black.

You'd want a short back, so when they stand, they have the shape of a heart. Sort of like this one. He's my dirty paint boy. His head is a little low there.


Combs are walnut-shaped, very dark mulberry or black, and have little to no wattles, which are also dark or black, as is their face or what you can see of it. Not pink or gray.

There are separate classes for bearded and non-bearded. If bearded, that should also be symmetrical and full, blending with their muffs.

Their feathers should be soft and poofy, true silkie feathers. Crest should be round and symmetrical. Wings should be tight to them and not long feathers that usually stick out a little.

For your black, if he/she develops a bit of a greenish sheen, that's good.

That's about all I can think of. @2ndTink is good at this, so maybe she can add a little or a lot more.

 

[2ndTink]

They are young to do a lot of evaluation on type, but you can go through some traits already at this point. There was a really great breeder who did some SOP explanation videos on Facebook, I think it was Harvest Breeze Silkies, those will be really helpful on the visual part of evaluation.

I see a few issues, I'll go comment on each bird I see immediate flaws with.

At this age, ensure they have the proper number of toes including the positioning and angles of the 4th and 5th toes. Look for pigment holes and white nails.

Are you breeding for fun or breeding to show? This will help drive your pickiness on what is acceptable to you or not.

 

[2ndTink]

It's not letting me respond to the different photos, I'll try again in a little bit.

 

[EnnerM97]

They are young to do a lot of evaluation on type, but you can go through some traits already at this point. There was a really great breeder who did some SOP explanation videos on Facebook, I think it was Harvest Breeze Silkies, those will be really helpful on the visual part of evaluation.

I see a few issues, I'll go comment on each bird I see immediate flaws with.

At this age, ensure they have the proper number of toes including the positioning and angles of the 4th and 5th toes. Look for pigment holes and white nails.

Are you breeding for fun or breeding to show? This will help drive your pickiness on what is acceptable to you or not.

thank you! i don’t show, this is moreso a hobby for me. however the area i live in is very FFA/agriculture-centered and the colors offered by quality breeders within 1-2 hours radius are pretty limited (buff, white.) so i’d like to be able to offer show-quality birds. i know that’ll take awhile to achieve, but im trying to start with birds from show lines/good genetics to get there faster.

i’ll still have my fun pens, they just won’t be held to the same standards.