Showgirl thread- for posting pictures and discussing breed!

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
I am starting my own showgirls and the little info I was able to find on this was to use a Turken hen and a silkie roo. It said future generations it does not matter so much as long as you keep breeding the offspring back to the silkie to obtain better type. It will take many generations to get to where you want to be, but it is something I wanted to do. I have little F1's running around right now and they are as cute as can be!

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I would greatly hesitate to go back to the original cross (nn x silkie).... you will get very poor type and problems with comb, eye color, leg color, skin color, crest size, etc etc etc. If you want something that looks like a showgirl, buy from a showgirl breeder. The cheap part is the birds, the expensive part is the coop, feed, and labor. Might as well take advantage of the many many crosses back to silkies that have been done since the original showgirls were created.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I think I am sold on those birds. Where can I locate a breeder? I have to build some sturdy pens first since I am having problems with predators but if I buy eggs, I will have plenty of time to get them built for when the chicks are old enough to go outside.

Sheryl Butler is one I would recommend. She is the only one with homozygous pens set up currently that I know of. There are several sources for heterozygous birds. Do they have to be eggs, or are there shows you attend where you might be able to pick up stock? If so, what shows/what area?

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I would keep an eye on middle toe feather and keep crossing back to silkies. They look decent. The one seems like it has some buff off coloring, or maybe it is the light.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
Jen I loves the quality of these homozygous and the idea of getting 100% showgirls is very appealing. I think I already spoke with you about using Gaga and Edward together, but I do have some very nice pullets from Edwards I may just put back to him. Their pics are up on my Facebook which I think you already saw. I also have a very nice spash that was not photographed that day. I am still hoping to get a nice black sg male by putting my black sg's from Edward back to my black silkie. You going to the Crossroads of America Poultry Show by chance or Shawnee this year? I am hoping to make one or both.

You should try putting edward back over some daughters. You could take one of Edward's sons to put over Gaga, since you know Gaga and Edward had the same mother. I'm hoping to make some homozygous bluexblue crosses by fall.... if they would start laying already!

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
I would greatly hesitate to go back to the original cross (nn x silkie).... you will get very poor type and problems with comb, eye color, leg color, skin color, crest size, etc etc etc. If you want something that looks like a showgirl, buy from a showgirl breeder. The cheap part is the birds, the expensive part is the coop, feed, and labor. Might as well take advantage of the many many crosses back to silkies that have been done since the original showgirls were created.

Question.... On researching the information on breeding the showgirls from the very start, it said to breed the offspring back to a silkie to improve type of course. Are you saying about breeding back to the original Mom & Dad? No, I wouldn't breed back to the original mom or dad but I am going to breed the F1 back to a silkie to improve type and continue on down the line for future generations. I know it is easier to buy an already established showgirl but I want to try on my own.

 

[ultasol]

No,.. I was talking about not trying to remake the wheel by starting from scratch with a nn x silkie. If you want to try on your own, go ahead, but be prepared for results that are a far cry from the pictures of showgirls you see posted in this thread. Many, many crosses back to silkies have been made to get the quality present in a decent showgirl.

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
Oh, I know that and I am keeping it small to start. It will be a fun long project but so worth it in the end.

 

[josh44]

I already have a few showgirls,

I am just wanting to know more about their backgrounds ???

Their Orgins & how they went about creating them from the start ?

 

[rilly10]

Here is a good article on how they were started...http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html

How are everyones showgirls doing in this AWFUL heat? Mine seem to be doing better than the silkies, but HOT! Any hatches coming up?? I have just a couple due in 4 days from my Lavender Cockerel (these will be his first babies) over two black (non-split) silkie hens.