How's the Quality of My Silkies??

[Chickie Mamma]

Hello, these 2 are about 15 weeks old. We have a local town fair that my DD wants to show one of them in. I didn't take pics of the feet, but they are heavily feathered and they both have great toe spacing. Their feet are filthy, so I will be soaking them in Vinegar later. Thanks for looking!

Thanks again..

 

[tiki244]

I would say they are very very pretty!!!!!!!!

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Thank You!! I just feel bad that they can't see too well with thise poofs. I try to cut them back a little, but it grows back so fast!

 

[chickencoop31320]

Very Pretty Babies!!!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Your white one is your better one, in my opinion.

You need to quit clipping the feathers on their crests though. If judged by APA standards, the judge will notice and will think you are hiding something. It is against the rules to alter a bird from it's "natural" state (i.e. remove feather ends, clip wings, clip feathers, some judges even go so far as to say that feathers that are removed by force (completely, not partially) are an exhibitor's way of hiding something.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Ah, I won't trim anymore. I just feel bad that they can't see. They run into everything. Is it ok to trim the beak or the nails? I haven't touched those yet, but I like to keep them groomed as best I can. I am not planning to show them in a "big" competition. It is a local little town fair. My DD thinks "Gerri" (White silkie) may have a chance.

 

[tiki244]

It is ok to trim the beaks and toe nails. Watch them so you dont get them too short. Keep dishes for feed and water that are easily accessable so they dont mess up their hair do before the show. I have some that seem like they cant see anything, but they do seem to get around pretty good. I tried tying their hair back, but had little success with that. Some people do that.

Do you know that they need to be kept on plenty of good bedding so they dont break their feet feathers? And to wash and dry them before the show? Thats about all I can think of.

Good Luck

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I have been told by judges that one NEEDS to trim the feathers blocking vision--these are generally only a few feathers. Hold the bird at eye level and trim or pluck any feathers that prevent you from seeing their eyes. I find that it is as often muff feathers that block vision as crest feathers.

Alternatively, you can use pink hair tape to make pony tails atop the head (like on Pebbles Flintstone).

The white has better wings; the splash has a better tail. He also looks too young. Is there any reason she can't enter both?

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Thanks for the tips. Is bedding better than paper towels? I have had these on paper towels since birth and their feet in my opinion, seem like they stay cleaner without all the bedding getting stuck. I clean them out twice a day. I bathe them every 2 weeks (they like being blow-dryed). For the white one, I use vinegar in the water. Is there anything else that helps with white feathers?

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Quote:
Thanks... I do trim the "muff" feathers. Those are the ones that are under the eyes, sort of the "cheeks"? I am all new to decent quality silkies and never had soooo much "poof". The white one usually stands much nicer, but we put them out in the grass and they were a little spooked by the bigger hens not far from them. The town fair is not a big judging show. I have seen alot of silkies there and there were questions about all of them. Its mostly for the kids. The fair is in August, do you think they are too young to show at about 19-20 weeks? And I guess you think the splash is a boy, huh?? I thought so, but he has had me guessing for a while, doesn't have much of a comb though. I'll never get my splash hen

Thanks for all the info, it makes it so much easier to understand the breed..