Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[Fur-N-Fowl]

@Hinotori here are some better photos of the chick, now names Tiramisu!

 

[Rockporters]

I hatched a partridge Silkie a couple of weeks ago. Love it, it’s a lot of fun watching how
It changes.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Out of my last 3 hatches I decided to keep 2 whites but also 3 partridge as growouts.

A gold partridge (7 weeks), a darker crested partridge (5 weeks) and a super light coloured partridge (4 weeks). As for which is which, crest size shows it!

I'm wondering which will turn out the prettiest partridge!

The eldest partridge doesn't have a name, I can't think of any.

Which do you guys think will be the nicest?

 

[jas humbert]

I think they are all darling. I like the dark crested too. Nice pictures. I'm the world's worst photographer. I hatched eggs from Bobbi Porto this spring and got my first dark crested partridge hen. The whole batch are 3 months old today. I also got an exceptional young roo. He's awfully hen shaped but the comb sure looks like he's coming out roo - plus the bright red partridge coloring. I can't tell you how pleased I am. He has a sweet pea temperment and the best toe separation of almost anything I've ever had. I have him plus a near identical brother and I will probably have to pick soon but honestly I can hardly tell one from the other yet. Anybody in TN area need a really nice roo?

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I think they are all darling. I like the dark crested too. Nice pictures. I'm the world's worst photographer. I hatched eggs from Bobbi Porto this spring and got my first dark crested partridge hen. The whole batch are 3 months old today. I also got an exceptional young roo. He's awfully hen shaped but the comb sure looks like he's coming out roo - plus the bright red partridge coloring. I can't tell you how pleased I am. He has a sweet pea temperment and the best toe separation of almost anything I've ever had. I have him plus a near identical brother and I will probably have to pick soon but honestly I can hardly tell one from the other yet. Anybody in TN area need a really nice roo?

Oh wow! They are all absolutely beautiful, really nice colours and quality

I do have to say that dark crested hen is so nice. That's kinda what I'm hoping the colour of mine will be similar to. I don't have intentions of breeding from the partridges I keep but I've definitely got some thinking to do. Out of all 5 chicks, in the long run I can only really keep two to add into my breeding/showing pen. I guess that'll ultimately depend on how each one develops.

Aw damn if I lived closer a roo with that colouration would have been tempting!

Very nice birds!

 

[jas humbert]

I know. I want to keep everything but I've got space issues too. I've thought about showing but I lack the free time right now. I used to show dogs years ago but gave it up when the kids came along. I still want super nice silkies for me if no one else. I've also got 2 exceptional whites out of this batch- I think a pair but not sure yet. Partridges are easier to tell sooner because of color. It may be a long time before I show, if ever, but I think I need to reread the standard on partridge coloring. I hesitated to order eggs from Bobbi because of the distance (I've had better success with shipped eggs closer to home) but I'm so glad it I did. I got 8 chicks out of my order of 2 dozen eggs and honestly I've never seen silkies this nice! They are only 3 months and we've still got some growing out to do but WOW!

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I know. I want to keep everything but I've got space issues too. I've thought about showing but I lack the free time right now. I used to show dogs years ago but gave it up when the kids came along. I still want super nice silkies for me if no one else. I've also got 2 exceptional whites out of this batch- I think a pair but not sure yet. Partridges are easier to tell sooner because of color. It may be a long time before I show, if ever, but I think I need to reread the standard on partridge coloring. I hesitated to order eggs from Bobbi because of the distance (I've had better success with shipped eggs closer to home) but I'm so glad it I did. I got 8 chicks out of my order of 2 dozen eggs and honestly I've never seen silkies this nice! They are only 3 months and we've still got some growing out to do but WOW!

Showing does take up quite a bit of time, it's hard enough getting the days off work for it. The majority of shows where I live are on Saturdays and that's one of the days I work. Luckily this year I can get to the biggest show I can attend which is in a weeks time.

My silkies look scraggly this time of year though since it's when they are moulting. I think it's odd for one of the biggest poultry shows near me to be held when most birds are going through their moult

One of my show whites has hardly any feathers on her wings it looks shocking I previously asked a judge though and they assured me they'd not count it as a fault as long as they can see where the new feathers are coming in. I'm still nervous though but it's an avoidable issue I guess!

If you do ever get time to start up with showing I'd say it's worth it. Even if I go and don't get placed, I still think it's a great experience. I'm unsure on how old you really children are but it's a great experience for them too. My younger sister loves helping me out before a show. This year I've let her enter one of my younger pullets.

I find the partridge colouration hard to understand at times. There's quite a few versions of partridge that are accepted for showing where I live making things more difficult. Although, there is quite a few sites that explain the main partridge colouration.

I've never incubated shipped eggs before but if they've traveled quite a way, I'd still say 8 was a decent number, especially since some are really nice.

I've found whites are more preferred colour for showing so I'd hang onto those if you have the space.

I believe the American Silkie standards have more disqualifications than the European standards. Generally speaking it comes down to the judges choice though.

What other silkies do you have if you have any others?

 

[jas humbert]

Sorry for delay- just getting back- huge issues- just found out we are going to be moving cross country in 2 months. I've just gotten my silkies were I want them and I'm going to have to let them go and start over once we are settled. I have 17 silkies. I have five 1-3 year old hens who are either show or good breeding quality. Eight of Bobbi's nice 3 month old show stock and 5 two months olds that are still mostly unsexed and fairly ordinary but decent. I'm heartbroken. I suppose they wont be that hard to sell. I'm in Clarksville, TN near KY border and 45 minutes from Nashville and lots of chicken people here. I think I'll try to sell them all at once but I may have to break them up. I don't have time for a bunch of messing around. I was really excited about my partridge pair.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Sorry for delay- just getting back- huge issues- just found out we are going to be moving cross country in 2 months. I've just gotten my silkies were I want them and I'm going to have to let them go and start over once we are settled. I have 17 silkies. I have five 1-3 year old hens who are either show or good breeding quality. Eight of Bobbi's nice 3 month old show stock and 5 two months olds that are still mostly unsexed and fairly ordinary but decent. I'm heartbroken. I suppose they wont be that hard to sell. I'm in Clarksville, TN near KY border and 45 minutes from Nashville and lots of chicken people here. I think I'll try to sell them all at once but I may have to break them up. I don't have time for a bunch of messing around. I was really excited about my partridge pair.

Aw no that's going to be difficult, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm guessing taking your birds is not an option.

I'm sure since they are nice quality they will sell but I know it will be difficult for you though. Hopefully someone is happy to take the whole flock and maybe keep you updated on them.

Genuinely sorry to hear that

 

[jas humbert]

We will be renting at first until we find the place we want so it probably isn't practical- but I'm heartbroken all the same. Oh, well if there is one thing I love it is hatching eggs and I'm keeping the incubators and will get going again when I'm settled. I know a lot more than I did the first time about building the coop/layout I want. Maybe I can even get someone to ship me eggs from my old girls next spring if I'm ready by then. I'll just have to make the best of new beginnings.