Self Blue (Lavender) Silkie Thread

[Three Cedars Silkies]

The last pic looks like an Isabel?? Or perhaps a silver gene white? That was about the color of my silver gene white boy when he was hatched. Sort of lavenderish with a tiny bit of yellow.

 

[BetsyOK]

Quote:
You don't necessarily want to cull four-toed birds. Depends on your goals, the overall quality of the bird, and the availability of better breeding stock. Four-toed birds don't always have four-toed chicks when bred with five-toed mates.

 

[jen5680]

Quote:
Could you explain the silver gene white???
Thanks!!

 

[brendapa]

They do look like blues or splash and since the breeder told you they came from a blue/black/splash pen that would make sense.
I'm sure you would have been told there were lavenders in the pen, and surely porcelains.
They are very cute and It'll be fun to watch them feather out.
Brenda in PA

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
You don't necessarily want to cull four-toed birds. Depends on your goals, the overall quality of the bird, and the availability of better breeding stock. Four-toed birds don't always have four-toed chicks when bred with five-toed mates.

Personally I would never use a 4 toed bird ( or 6 toed, or single comb) for breeding. They may not produce chicks with the same problem, but they will pass on that gene and you will have that popping up from time to time.

 

[BetsyOK]

I've used a four-toed lavender roo in the past because I had NO other lavs and no prospects of getting more at the time. Yes, it does pop up from time to time, but if that's ALL you have to use, it is definitely better than nothing. I got some good birds also. I don't plan to use four-toed birds in the future, but I'm not ready to cull a couple of otherwise very nice young Isabel Porcelains for the same reason. They are so far pretty scarce. And, they are probably second generation from that four-toed lavender roo, but so are the ones with five toes. Since I'm just a hobbyist, showing only a little and in support of my friends who are serious showers, it isn't as important to me as it may be to others, and I always have people who want pretty, pet-quality birds.

One of my friends, who is an excellent and prolific breeder, advised me several years ago that toes are among the easier things to correct with careful breeding programs. Even with all five-toed parents, you'll still come up occasionally with a toe or two missing on babes.

I definitely would not use a single-combed bird for breeding, but I've never had one either, so far. I do have one that has two single combs side by side--there may be a name for that--and I'll definitely NOT use that bird. The only one I've ever had with even close to a single comb.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I thought my Lav Pullet laid an egg the day before, and somehow my little Buff/Lav Showgirl got in the Aussie Coop and what did I find, a pretty little Silkie egg. So, I guess it's my little Showgirl laying instead. But, that's okay I am closer to my Isabel Silkies!!

Maybe, they are both laying. The two eggs are totally different colors.


I am having trouble with my Lavender Hens eggs. They start developing and then die.

It's getting frustrating!! I only have one now that is doing good. What could it be????

 

[brendapa]

I read the post by Resolution about feed, protein, quality scratch & premium seed, Mazuri products and forage cakes. I know he is involved with either Mazuri or C&S but the reasoning to use a better quality feed for better eggs/embryo development makes perfect sense.
The Mazuri gamebird starter & feed is $18-$20 a 50lb bag. Purina is $15. The forage cakes are full of vitamins, so why not get someone to order them for you. Why feed 18%-20% protein to a hen we want to be in top breeding condition?

You are not the 1st to mention the lavenders and porcelains are a little harder to hatch. I'm wondering if they do not need a little more humidity during the incubation. I had 4 that didn't hatch, I'm sure they were all porcelains

.
I was running at 26%-40% + 98.8 degrees. 59% at lockdown. 9 hatched, 4 did not. I hand turned 9 times a day week 1, 7 times a day week 2 and 3 times daily after that.
I'm feeding Purina gamebird starter (30%) right now, waiting for my 1st bag of Mazuri to come in. I'm still trying to get someone who carries C&S products to order forage cakes. I have 4 perfect lavenders, 3 porcelains, and numerous splits to work with.
Hopefully, I'll be working on the insides as well as the outsides.

Brenda in PA

 

[BetsyOK]

First egg in the lav/lav pen! I've been telling her every day I need eggs! The roo is a very nice non-bearded lav, one pullet is a beautiful bearded lavender, and the second pullet is a lav/black split Showgirl. All are from Bren and/or Deb. I'm pretty sure the lav is the one laying, as the Showgirl is still pretty young. I know this egg might not be fertile, but I'll put it in the incubator next week with a few others to fill in the guinea group that'll have been incubating one week. Getting to be exciting times!

 

[trisha19]

I had been having a heck of a time hatching chicks this year silkie and cochin. So this last time we set the temp. to 101.5 and keep the humidity between 50 and 60% and had a much better hatch. Now I use a little giant with the egg turner. I am hoping to figure this out this year so I have better luck hatching when I get Lavender eggs.