D'uccle Silkie

[Grimm Beck]

Hello there,
I am looking to start my own little project, As the title says. D'uccle silkies! Currently I have a pair of white silkies, But no Mille Fleurs yet. I am hoping to get a pair at a Critters and Crafts sale on June 15th. (At that time my mom is buying a dozen assorted blue and splash silkie eggs.)
And I am hoping to start a D'uccle silkie project. Now I wondered if anyone had tried it before. And decided here was a good place to ask.
Does anyone have any suggestions? What is the best colour of silkie to try this with? Is there certain methods of how to best get the colour/chicken I am looking for?

 

[hdowden]

do not use white unless you will be using white d'uccle. white is a gene masker meaning that there could be any color hiding under that white. also kep in mind that all first generation babies will be smoothed feathered because the silkie gen eis recessive and needs two copies to be expressed. other than that buff Colombian silkie with milli is another good combo. this will take several years to do as you will have to get back to the d'uccle type and breed out the 5 toes, black skin, and bring back the single comb (comb and skin are the easiest to correct 5 toes still appear even in my 3rd generation babies). you could also work on self blue by using black silkies and self blue d'uccle. i do recommend having at least 2 separate breeding pens to help prevent inbreeding issues. i plan on having at least 4 different pens. you will be doing several back breeding's to get to where you need to be. i need to make a chart for myself that i could share for a reference

 

[Grimm Beck]

Thank you, Definitely copying and pasting that somewhere where I'll be able to look at it when I need it!
And yes, Me and My Dad are going to be building some new pens in the barn really soon and I planned to ask for two to three small pens, I am willing to stick with this until I get what I am looking for. And will definitely dabble with other colours too out of pure curiosity~
Again thanks for that!

 

[hdowden]

i would do at least one roo to two - three hens for good genetic diversity. you can even switch the roos around to the other pens as well just have to have a way to id them so you know which parents they came from

 

[Grimm Beck]

Yes, I am hoping to get a pair or if the prices aren't too expensive, a trio in June. I'm sure it won't be very hard. It is a huge sale, Completely booked for vendors.
I've seen banded chickens. Maybe I could get some different coloured ones. I'll have to peek on eBay.

 

[hdowden]

zip ties work as well just change them as the chicks get older so they do not get to tight on the legs

 

[AmazingChickens]

That sounds like a good project, I myself and trying something similar, but it might not work! I have a frizzle that breeds with the other hens, recently I had my hen lay an egg and it had a rooster spot, so I am trying to hatch an ameracauna frizzle mix

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

What exactly are you looking for? A Millie Fleur Silkie? A D'Uccle with Silkie feathers? Certain traits from each breed? It would also be a good idea to pick just one color, and stick with it, instead of gathering up whatever you can find. And I agree with hdowden, if you plan to use white, stick with it on both sides. I'm not sure if white is recessive in D'Uccles, but it is in Silkies. If its recessive on both sides, you'll have a mess. Pick your color, set your goals for what you're working towards and don't compromise. I'm in the midst of a Sizzle project (just 2 years in), and when I started, I wanted to keep everything. Which is good to a point, but you have to know when to let go. That was hard for me

and it seems to be that way for others too.

I can see this being an adorable mix, but what are you specifically going for? It would help to know, so we can offer better advise

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

What exactly are you looking for? A Millie Fleur Silkie? A D'Uccle with Silkie feathers? Certain traits from each breed? It would also be a good idea to pick just one color, and stick with it, instead of gathering up whatever you can find. And I agree with hdowden, if you plan to use white, stick with it on both sides. I'm not sure if white is recessive in D'Uccles, but it is in Silkies. If its recessive on both sides, you'll have a mess. Pick your color, set your goals for what you're working towards and don't compromise. I'm in the midst of a Sizzle project (just 2 years in), and when I started, I wanted to keep everything. Which is good to a point, but you have to know when to let go. That was hard for me

and it seems to be that way for others too.

I can see this being an adorable mix, but what are you specifically going for? It would help to know, so we can offer better advise

I too don't understand what the OP is wanting. But I'm confused about recessive white on both sides being a mess? Recessive white X recessive white = recessive white.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I was meaning if the OP started mixing other colors, like Millie Fleur, with white. I assumed weird things would pop up that the white would be hiding. Am I incorrect in my thinking? I was recommending the OP use white with white, instead of mixing up colors (if they're aiming for a certain color, that is). I'm always eager to learn as well, so please correct me if I'm wrong