crossing silkies with other breeds

[eggboy]

I have heard a lot of bad things about silkies having weak skulls and that they get brain damage really easily, but I really want one, if I crossed a silkie with a chicken of another breed would that fix the problem?

 

[nzpouter]

I kept silkies for over 10 years now... only come across this problem twice out of hundreds of birds.

 

[Teach97]

they are born with the brain damage...maybe not...but they sure act like it sometimes! The other thought is that they have thinner skulls so they can use their mental powers to take over your mind and cause you to become addicted to them and bring them more treats! Get some! They are a hoot!

 

[debilorrah]

I had three silkies and one died from an extreme case of wry neck that no amount of polyvisol helped. Another one hung itself behind the waterer (note to self - move the waterer) and the other one is doing great. She is in with a BR roo. Who knows! Striped chicken with a top knot??

 

[Settler'sDreamFarm]

I believe they have can have brain damage easily because of their crest, so if you crossed them with another bird, the offspring would probably have a crest aswell so they would still have the problem.
I would just get silkies and not worry about, the chances that they recieve brain damage or something is very low, I wouldnt worry about it. I had a silkie chick with seahorse syndrome I think it is the same as wry neck and I was able to cure her and I still have her and she is doing great

 

[Pathfinders]

Some silkies have an extreme vault in their skull, which can lead to brain damage if they bump their head as the vault means all there is is skin over that section of the brain, not bone. That being said, there are many, many breeders of Silkies whose birds have enough skull bone that you don't have to deal with this problem.

I generally am against cross breeding birds, and would advise against this. If you want good silkies, find a reputable breeder and tell them you want sturdy, hardy birds who won't have this problem. Most breeders do breed against this characteristic, fwiw.