Self Blue (Lavender) Silkie Thread

[Darling Farms]

Freckle Face Farms ~ Congratulations on your little eggies! Have you set them yet... any hatch? Oh please send/post pictures. PLEASE!

Feather Baby ~ Happy that you are happy with ALL of your boys. Aren't those black splits a thing of beauty? I can't wait after a few (many) years of crossing the lavenders back... then the LAVENDERS will look like that and hopefully better!
~ Spiral (or rotational line breeding) is a very methodical selective breeding method using three or more SEPARATE lines. We are using it to prevent and correct issues with inbreeding and to increase type and viability of the lavenders.
~ For us it is a 12 year plan until we will achieve our desired results for a better stronger type-ier lavender... but it's worth it! Can you say, 'LONG TERM GOALS'.

http://www.pathfindersfarm.com/Spiral.html
http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id35.html


Infertility with eggs ~ We are only getting a little over a 50% hatch rate here with our lavenders (these are our eggs not shipped). And not much better yet with the splits. We are trying different incubation methods and moving over to weighing our eggs throughout the incubation process to perfect our humidity levels. All of that being said, we are hoping that this is one of the things that will be worked out after years of breeding back to multiple lines of fabulous healthy blacks! I have heard people talk about a semi-lethal gene in the lavenders... there are so MANY other thing to make sure of first, nutrition, incubation practices, etc. However, it wouldn't surprise me with all of the other challenges that we have faced with this variety.

Ugggh Mites/lice. What a mess.

~Darling Farms

 

[Hennypen]

Yea.. uggg lice/mites.. it's just this one silkie.

At least now. The others will be treated to though.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Having the same problem with lice/mites. Couldn't get rid of them. I tried the powdered stuff...reapplied as told but worked only temporary it seemed. Then I got the Ivermectin pour on and they haven't been back yet

I think it says to reapply after 6 weeks? Maybe a month...I'll have to check the box. Out of my whole White pen, only this one Silkie had them...didn't see anything on any of the others. I read that it could be that this one particular Silkie might not be as hygienic (sp?) as the others? I hope I got rid of them for good because WHAT A PAIN!!!

Quote:

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

There are mite sprays specifically for birds, but they are pricier, and pretty much have hte same ingredients.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

DARLING: My little Lavenders from you are doing Awesome!!! I can't wait til they get older! The little one with less feathering is my absolute favorite! She runs to my hand and literally jumps in it to be held! Such a sweetie...they all are though

ETA that I can't spell lol

 

[Darling Farms]

Broweyedbuttafly~ YEA!

We are so pleased that the you and your chicks are happy... the fluff will come in even on the non fluffy one!

~Darling Farms

 

[Hennypen]

My first lav split hatched this morning.

 

[featherbaby]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What an adorable baby!!!!!

 

[Hennypen]

Correct number of toes, but I'm not sure what color it is. I thought black but the fluffy feathers look grey but darker than the lavender grey color. ???

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

It definitely appears to be a black. Their baby down is usually a dark charcoal/grey. When the wing feathers start coming in you will see the black.