Reducing the Size of Silkies

[blueoval1]

I have noticed that silkies are getting bigger and are not as small as bantams should be. I have heard a lot of judges say silkies are too big. I was just wondering what people on BYC thought about this and any tips to reduce their size.

Also I have a question about silkie combs I have noticed some males with large walnut combs resembling a blob of gum and I have noticed birds with small almost pea combs.
Which is better?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Comb shape is important; a few breeders stress over getting the combs small. IMO, size is immaterial if the shape is correct, although a male with a too small comb is usually not a good breeder. I've seen very few silkies with pea combs. I've seen quite a few with modified rose combs; probably more than have the correct walnut combs.

Size, according to the standard is weight, not volume. The silkies with the longest feathers look considerably larger than they weigh. Are some silkies too big? Probably. Are many or even most silkies properly sized according to weight? I believe so.

 

[ultasol]

When you go to bathe a silkie for show, it becomes obvious that, while larger than many bantams, they are still small. Much of their size is due to the fluff created by the silkie feathering. I don't think the body size is much different from a bantam Wyandotte or Cornish.

 

[silkieowner]

heres a picture of my silkie rooster Lighting as you can see he has a pretty big comb and wattles which i love. His comb and wattles are also the correct colour i think.

 

[ultasol]

For show, the wattles should not be so large nor the comb so red.

 

[silkieowner]

i thought roosters have large wattles its the females that have small wattles. Also my roosters comb and wattles aren't red there purple in colour. My rooster isn't show quailty but to me his beautiful in my eyes.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I've kind of wondered about the size of silkies myself. It's probably because I keep OEGB and seramas and that's the size of chickens I personally prefer, but they do seem a bit large to me for bantams. If anyone manages to get a healthy line of smaller silkies going, I'd be interested.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Yes, there are way too many large silkies and I believe that most of them come from particular "lines". All the fluff aside, if a cock is 18 inches tall and in show condition, it is most likely that his weight is going to be outside the ABA/APA recommendations.

I particularly like mine to LOOK like bantams and selectively breed for size....just my preference. I understand that more and more judges are complaining that silkies are "getting too big" and will place a smaller silkie over a larger one just for that reason.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Quote:
There are way more PQ silkies than show quality and personally, I think they are all lovely...just different. Most folks are used to bearded silkies and you can't see their wattles at all. I have a lovely white PQ cock that free-ranges with my large fowl "big girls" and I think he's lovely...just different from my show birds.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

I see way too many Silkie roo's with the large, red, bubblegum combs. I've always preferred the smaller walnut comb and that's what I breed for. Just my opinion...