Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[Hinotori]

Lavender is two Blues producing only Blue offspring and no Splash or Black?

It's a totally different grey coloring gene than blue. It doesn't even produce the same shade. Lavender is a recessive gene where blue is incomplete dominant. Yes lavender bred to lavender only produces lavender. There can be a feather quality issue associated with the lavender gene, so black birds are also used occasionally in the breeding to improve feather quality.

Both blue and lavender dilute black. Lavender dilutes red as well.

 

[Sylvester017]

My 6-1/2 yr-old Partridge Silkie hen has finally dropped her last dry pox from the top of her beak and we put her outside this past week. Unfortunately, since she was isolated for over a month, the Cuckoo Breda hen decided Violet didn't belong in the flock and jumped the little Silkie -- so now we have the Breda isolated to give Violet a chance to get accustomed to our new 3-1/2 month-old Dominique chicks. Violet is doing very well with the chicks. I just hope once we put the Breda back in w/ the flock that Violet will be established enough that the Breda will be lower on the flock pecking order. Violet is a very shy Silkie -- always dainty, slow, methodical, and we have to be certain she gets a good share of feed and treats or the other birds gobble everything up before she savors a couple of slow mouthfuls.

Violet is still growing in new crest quills and it's so nice to see her w/a "clean" face and no more pox crusts

The Dom chicks love petting and Violet came over for some attention too.

After the Breda jumped Violet we gave Violet a few days to just toodle w/ the Dom chicks. We'll isolate the Breda indoors for a couple weeks to get Violet well established in the outdoor pecking order. I will not get Violet another Silkie companion -- we had to put down her old Black Silkie flockmate from cancer. I don't want to get another Silkie because we'll be down to one lone Silkie again if/when we lose old Violet.

The 3 Dom chicks are 3-1/2 months old and share space w/ Violet -- (her little fluffy Partridge tail is on the right behind the group of Doms).

Violet is our longest-lived backyard chicken. She hasn't layed eggs in a year and unfortunately the same-age Black Silkie companion who was still laying had a bleeding ovarian tumor and had to be put down. Always sad to see a cute set like this break up.

 

[HeritageHenNut]

Looking for some feedback, just got this trio of Partridge Silkies. Wondering what everyone thinks. The Roo's feather condition is a bit rough, but I imagine that will improve once he moults. (He was in a run with another dominant Roo)

 

[Sylvester017]

@HeritageHenNut Love your birds! Me, personally, I love the bearded hens so I adore your center photo. The roo stands so cute and tall like a male should! Enjoy them!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Looking for some feedback, just got this trio of Partridge Silkies. Wondering what everyone thinks. The Roo's feather condition is a bit rough, but I imagine that will improve once he moults. (He was in a run with another dominant Roo)
View attachment 1370367 View attachment 1370368 View attachment 1370369

Poor little guy looks like he has had a bit of a hard time. The middle bird doesn’t look partridge, from that angle she looks to be blue/black with gold leakage.

 

[Hinotori]

Lovely trio you have. Yes your boy looks like he's seen the rough end of a beak. Time will fix that. I'd love to see them all again after molt when in perfect condition. I know I have hens that look horrid right now because they are favorites. When in condition they are beautiful.

Have you been breeding silkies before?

Partridge is the hardest color to deal with in silkies. Too many issues that are hard to get rid of like the orange roosters.

The beardless hen will cause an issue with offspring having really small beards since they will only have 1 copy of the gene. This is a fairly easily fixed issue with a few generations and time.

Is the boy hot? His wings are held low so could be heat or he could be posturing. I'd watch if posturing as you don't want a people aggressive bird.


None of this next is meant to be taken bad. Just want to put the information out so you have a few ideas of what to breed for going forward. Some I wish I knew when I started breeding.

The rooster could just have bad wing carriage causing the wing placement. I've had such issues with split wing that I've gotten super picky on them for breeding.

I don't care for the stiff, high carried sickle feathers on his tail. I cull roosters for that now unless they have something I just really need otherwise.

Better color the rooster would be good, but his is better than most partridge roosters that I've seen. It's an ongoing breed issue. You have a head start there.

The beardless hen doesn't seem fluffy enough to me, BUT, I've only had bearded and I think they are fluffier. So not saying much there.

Both hens have a nice color. Even though it's a pretty contrast and many love it, black heads are actually against the Standard of Perfection for the partridge color in poultry. There is much argument about it and silkies among breeders. I suggest you breed for what you prefer.

 

[Hinotori]

Poor little guy looks like he has had a bit of a hard time. The middle bird doesn’t look partridge, from that angle she looks to be blue/black with gold leakage.

Looks like a darker partridge hen. It's the black head throwing off her looks

 

[HeritageHenNut]

Lovely trio you have. Yes your boy looks like he's seen the rough end of a beak. Time will fix that. I'd love to see them all again after molt when in perfect condition. I know I have hens that look horrid right now because they are favorites. When in condition they are beautiful.

Have you been breeding silkies before?

Partridge is the hardest color to deal with in silkies. Too many issues that are hard to get rid of like the orange roosters.

The beardless hen will cause an issue with offspring having really small beards since they will only have 1 copy of the gene. This is a fairly easily fixed issue with a few generations and time.

Is the boy hot? His wings are held low so could be heat or he could be posturing. I'd watch if posturing as you don't want a people aggressive bird.


None of this next is meant to be taken bad. Just want to put the information out so you have a few ideas of what to breed for going forward. Some I wish I knew when I started breeding.

The rooster could just have bad wing carriage causing the wing placement. I've had such issues with split wing that I've gotten super picky on them for breeding.

I don't care for the stiff, high carried sickle feathers on his tail. I cull roosters for that now unless they have something I just really need otherwise.

Better color the rooster would be good, but his is better than most partridge roosters that I've seen. It's an ongoing breed issue. You have a head start there.

The beardless hen doesn't seem fluffy enough to me, BUT, I've only had bearded and I think they are fluffier. So not saying much there.

Both hens have a nice color. Even though it's a pretty contrast and many love it, black heads are actually against the Standard of Perfection for the partridge color in poultry. There is much argument about it and silkies among breeders. I suggest you breed for what you prefer.

He was posturing a little, but we'd just gotten him out of his shipping crate and into the quarantine coop. He's settled down fairly well.

This is my first venture with Partridge, so I will definitely be learning as I go. I'll post more pictures as they improve and when I hatch chicks from them. (They are laying well already)

 

[FishMtFarm]

Partridge come in quite the variety so it's a hard color to perfect. This is the only partridge I have but don't breed for show. I just love her.

 

[HeritageHenNut]

She's lovely!