examples of a breed standard silkie?

[Diveks]

Hello, ive wanted to add silkies to my flock for awhile now. Pure silkies are pretty rare/expensive here and i wanted to breed them so that i can also get them more available here. I want to breed those that are up to standard.

The problem is that we have what we call ‘American silkies’ and also the Chinese silkies. I want to breed the american silkies, and want to know the breed standard of silkies as some people here breed them together and say that they are ‘American silkies’. Pictures will help lots!!

I do have 2 local breeders, that come to mind. Breeder 1 can give me some in a discounted price as i get my birds there sometimes. While ive never gotten birds from breeder 2. So if breeder 1s are up to standard, the discounted price is a plus.

Breeder 1 (sent some videos):
Some but not all of the parents:

Chicks (5 months):

Breeder 2 (took some screen shots from their videos):

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Breeder 2 looks more accurate. They need to have 5 toes (3 in front and 2 in back), but everything else looks right

 

[black_cat]

I'm not an expert in silkies or in breeding, but I'd also say that breeder #2 has birds much closer to what is usually cited as a silkie that is being bred to standard.

 

[Diveks]

Breeder 2 looks more accurate. They need to have 5 toes (3 in front and 2 in back), but everything else looks right

I'm not an expert in silkies or in breeding, but I'd also say that breeder #2 has birds much closer to what is usually cited as a silkie that is being bred to standard.

Will be checking the toes when i pick them up! Also heard each toes should preferably have nails? I will be contacting breeder 2 if they have any chicks available.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Will be checking the toes when i pick them up! Also heard each toes should preferably have nails? I will be contacting breeder 2 if they have any chicks available.

Yes. Each toe must have a nail (sometimes the extra one has 2 nails which isn't preferred, but still okay I think)

 

[Diveks]

Yes. Each toe must have a nail (sometimes the extra one has 2 nails which isn't preferred, but still okay I think)

Thanks!

Unfortunately the second breeder hasn’t replied yet. I did find another breeder but they are 12 hours away, fortunately they ship. Although i cant pick my own chicks and they are more expensive plus shipping

They are i think almost twice as expensive, would the price jump be worth it? These would be the adults from the breeder:

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Breeder 2 has what looks like are typey Silkies. The bird shown from breeder 3 looks pretty good, too. Nice crest and great fluffy tail. Looks a little leggy.
You can work with this though.
Important traits to look for are correct walnut comb, preferrably not huge.
Ideally should have a short back and be low to the ground. Adult males should not weigh more than 3lbs, adult females not more than 2lbs. Can be hard to determine this in chicks and juveniles.
Really tough to know for sure how a chick will mature. Ones that look so-so at 3 months can all of a sudden look great at 5 months.
So the parent stock are really the only thing you can go by for this.
Other traits are 5 toes, with good toe spacing between the 4th and 5th toes, as well as second toe feathering. This is already evident in chicks.
Black skin (exceptions are paints and cuckoo color varieties which can be have pigment "holes")
You should be able to find the SOP for Silkies on line for more details. Here is a link that may help.
Good luck in your search!
https://silkie.org/silkie-breed-standard.html
.

 

[Diveks]

Breeder 2 has what looks like are typey Silkies. The bird shown from breeder 3 looks pretty good, too. Nice crest and great fluffy tail. Looks a little leggy.
You can work with this though.
Important traits to look for are correct walnut comb, preferrably not huge.
Ideally should have a short back and be low to the ground. Adult males should not weigh more than 3lbs, adult females not more than 2lbs. Can be hard to determine this in chicks and juveniles.
Really tough to know for sure how a chick will mature. Ones that look so-so at 3 months can all of a sudden look great at 5 months.
So the parent stock are really the only thing you can go by for this.
Other traits are 5 toes, with good toe spacing between the 4th and 5th toes, as well as second toe feathering. This is already evident in chicks.
Black skin (exceptions are paints and cuckoo color varieties which can be have pigment "holes")
You should be able to find the SOP for Silkies on line for more details. Here is a link that may help.
Good luck in your search!
https://silkie.org/silkie-breed-standard.html
.

Thank you so much for the info will be looking at the link!

Good news! I have found available silkie chicks locally, but from a hobbyist so I can’t exactly pick out which birds I want since they only have a limited amount of chicks. So i will have to pick off of the looks of the adults.

If some of you could give a suggestion for which of these two hobbyist i should get them from, much help is appreciated as I am not too familiar with this breed.

Seller 1: chicks and adults

Seller 2: chicks and adults

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Thank you so much for the info will be looking at the link!

Good news! I have found available silkie chicks locally, but from a hobbyist so I can’t exactly pick out which birds I want since they only have a limited amount of chicks. So i will have to pick off of the looks of the adults.

If some of you could give a suggestion for which of these two hobbyist i should get them from, much help is appreciated as I am not too familiar with this breed.

Seller 1: chicks and adults
View attachment 2940920

Seller 2: chicks and adults
View attachment 2940921View attachment 2940922
View attachment 2940924

They both look pretty good. Honestly they look very similar. If I had to choose and could only go by these photos, I would choose seller number 1.
When I look at chicks, I check the feet and combs, as really only thing to go by at this age.

 

[Diveks]

They both look pretty good. Honestly they look very similar. If I had to choose and could only go by these photos, I would choose seller number 1.
When I look at chicks, I check the feet and combs, as really only thing to go by at this age.

Thanks! Will be looking at their feet and combs.
I have decided to go with seller 2 as they had better prices. Seller 1 also only have 3 left so i can’t really pick them out. I will be picking them out tomorrow. Hoping i’ll pick out the right chicks .
One of the chicks from a vid i got: