Showing Silkies

[Lemon88]

I currently have only quail, but would like to get a few silkie hens. I'm interested in showing them. How exactly does it work?

 

[cleoandtheflock]

@Fur-N-Fowl shows silkies

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I currently have only quail, but would like to get a few silkie hens. I'm interested in showing them. How exactly does it work?

Hello

@cleoandtheflock is correct I do show Silkies. Still relatively new to it but I've attended some shows and learnt quite a bit from talking to judges.

I'll be away from my phone for the next couple of hours but I'm more than happy to share what I know when I'm back.

Could I ask what country you live in? Different countries have different standards for showing.

I'm glad you're interested in showing Silkies though I find it super rewarding!
​

@Fur-N-Fowl shows silkies

Thankyou for mentioning me here! ​

 

[Lemon88]

Hello

@cleoandtheflock is correct I do show Silkies. Still relatively new to it but I've attended some shows and learnt quite a bit from talking to judges.

I'll be away from my phone for the next couple of hours but I'm more than happy to share what I know when I'm back.

Could I ask what country you live in? Different countries have different standards for showing.

I'm glad you're interested in showing Silkies though I find it super rewarding!
​

Thankyou for mentioning me here! ​

I live in the u.s.!

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I live in the u.s.!

Alright!

So, I don't know how the showing system works in the US since I'm from the UK so we may need somone to verify it for me.

However, in the UK, you search for upcoming shows such as county or farmers shows. 99% of the time they have a poultry section! Search the show online and it'll give you what classes it has (Bantam, True Bantam, Large Fowl, Soft Feather etc) and you figure out which your birds come under.

There should be a sheet/form for you to print out, fill in with some simple info and send off to sort out your entry's. Usually if you are showing birds there you get entry into the show itself too.

As for what class Silkies come under, I believe in the US you will only have the Bantam class. So it would most likely be the Soft Feather Bantam Silkie. It will either be a male & female class judged together or a seperate class for each but it will specify on the form.

Whereas in the UK we have both Bantam and Large Fowl Silkies. That's where things get confusing for us over here

However, the last judge I spoke to told me that it's best to show females in an all female class. This being because judges are usually drawn to cockerels/roosters and they generally have a higher chance of winning over females. Don't let that put you off joining a male & female class though!

So, first thing's first though, you've got to have Silkies to be able to show them!

I'd say choosing your Silkies is probably the most difficult part. You will most likely not get fantastic show quality hens when you buy them. Breeders of show quality stock tend to keep them for themselves for future breeding/showing. That doesn't mean you won't get birds that are not suitable for showing though.

For example, I purchased 2 pure bred Silkie hens. One I can never show, she's the wrong colour but my white one is of a good show standard. However, she does have faults such as her middle toe feathering and size. They aren't things that disqualify her but they will take 'points' off her score.
Just because a bird doesn't have all perfect traits doesn't be mean it's not show standard. As long as it doesn't have any disqualifications, you are in with a chance.

Don't buy from places such as those tractor bins or hatcheries I believe they are called over there. Most of the time they don't breed to standard and you could be potentially wasting your money on a bird that can't be shown. If you do buy from there, ask to check the birds over. Look at their features such as checking of they have 5 toes, black skin, leg feathering and their crest etc. Instead, look for private breeders if possible.

Also, it's better to purchase Silkies at their point of lay. Showing a bird before it has reached maturity isn't advisable and a judge will know as they feel the pelvic bone. It also gives you a better chance of buying birds that won't change physically that much.

I believe in the US it is prefered for Silkies to have a BIG poofy crest. It has to be nice and rounded, not scraggly or very small in size.

Lucky us in the UK we can show both large and small crested Silkies. It's judges preference over here.

If you want more info on what to look for when buying Silkies then just ask me

Ultimately, to get the best show stock for the best chances of getting that desired 1st prize, you have to breed your own Silkies.

Starting off with say, a Cockerel who has good leg feathering and a female that is perfect apart from her leg feathering. You could then get good leg feathering on chicks that also have the mothers other good standards. However, breeding them requires time and patience. You may produce multiple generations before you get a decent show chick.

Showing birds also means that you will most likely have to part with some of your birds. It's hard but try not to get overly attached. I have one or two of mine that I will never sell regardless of their show quality. However, I have ended up with 4 toed Silkies which unfortunately had to go. It doesn't mean you have to cull them! Don't think that. Many people will buy them off you as pets.

Another part of showing comes down to their care. It's a very important part of it.

Most of the time my Silkies are free range however, free range white birds will usually go yellow over time and that's not desirable to judges. However, before a show, washing with whitening shampoo can clean them up a bit. Of course, Silkies do need to be washed preferably the day before you take them to a show. They also need to be in perfect health and free from illness and parasites.

I tend to cage my birds in rabbit hutches 2 weeks before a show. This gets them used to being in a cage and makes sure their feathers aren't damaged by other birds etc. During this time I treat them for any form of parasites and handle them everyday.

A judge can disqualify a bird that's not tolerant of being handled or shows any illness.

I know at first it all sound so scary and kinda like a place you don't feel like you could fit in with the 'top breeders' out there. I know that feeling.

I started out showing just for fun, and it's still just for fun. I don't care if I don't win anything, I take it as a bonus if I do. However, there is people out there that take it very seriously. At my last show some guy ripped up his second prize ticket because he didn't come first. I don't understand some people...

However, you won't be the only one that the show that's just starting. Every time I go there is always new people there.

Some join that know they don't have show quality birds, they do it for fun and for the experience.

It's worth you getting 2 Silkie hens and once they have started laying, take them to a show. Ignore the fact that one may have too much hard feathering or other 'imperfect' features it's still worth taking them.

When you are there with them, have a look at other birds there, talk to the breeders. Most importantly, talk to the judge that judged the class you entered!

They will talk through you what's good about your bird and what's not.

I can guarantee you that people won't care if you've enetered a Silkie that's not the best show standard, you won't be the only one.

It's the best place to start and will help you decide if it's really something you are interested in doing!

Oh, I'd also advice purchasing a breed standard book which will give you all the info on what is required of a show Silkie (such as colour and combs etc).

I hope this helps of some sort. If I've missed anything out or you have any other questions just ask I'm always happy to help ​

 

[Lemon88]

Alright!

So, I don't know how the showing system works in the US since I'm from the UK so we may need somone to verify it for me.

However, in the UK, you search for upcoming shows such as county or farmers shows. 99% of the time they have a poultry section! Search the show online and it'll give you what classes it has (Bantam, True Bantam, Large Fowl, Soft Feather etc) and you figure out which your birds come under.

There should be a sheet/form for you to print out, fill in with some simple info and send off to sort out your entry's. Usually if you are showing birds there you get entry into the show itself too.

As for what class Silkies come under, I believe in the US you will only have the Bantam class. So it would most likely be the Soft Feather Bantam Silkie. It will either be a male & female class judged together or a seperate class for each but it will specify on the form.

Whereas in the UK we have both Bantam and Large Fowl Silkies. That's where things get confusing for us over here

However, the last judge I spoke to told me that it's best to show females in an all female class. This being because judges are usually drawn to cockerels/roosters and they generally have a higher chance of winning over females. Don't let that put you off joining a male & female class though!

So, first thing's first though, you've got to have Silkies to be able to show them!

I'd say choosing your Silkies is probably the most difficult part. You will most likely not get fantastic show quality hens when you buy them. Breeders of show quality stock tend to keep them for themselves for future breeding/showing. That doesn't mean you won't get birds that are not suitable for showing though.

For example, I purchased 2 pure bred Silkie hens. One I can never show, she's the wrong colour but my white one is of a good show standard. However, she does have faults such as her middle toe feathering and size. They aren't things that disqualify her but they will take 'points' off her score.
Just because a bird doesn't have all perfect traits doesn't be mean it's not show standard. As long as it doesn't have any disqualifications, you are in with a chance.

Don't buy from places such as those tractor bins or hatcheries I believe they are called over there. Most of the time they don't breed to standard and you could be potentially wasting your money on a bird that can't be shown. If you do buy from there, ask to check the birds over. Look at their features such as checking of they have 5 toes, black skin, leg feathering and their crest etc. Instead, look for private breeders if possible.

Also, it's better to purchase Silkies at their point of lay. Showing a bird before it has reached maturity isn't advisable and a judge will know as they feel the pelvic bone. It also gives you a better chance of buying birds that won't change physically that much.

I believe in the US it is prefered for Silkies to have a BIG poofy crest. It has to be nice and rounded, not scraggly or very small in size.

Lucky us in the UK we can show both large and small crested Silkies. It's judges preference over here.

If you want more info on what to look for when buying Silkies then just ask me

Ultimately, to get the best show stock for the best chances of getting that desired 1st prize, you have to breed your own Silkies.

Starting off with say, a Cockerel who has good leg feathering and a female that is perfect apart from her leg feathering. You could then get good leg feathering on chicks that also have the mothers other good standards. However, breeding them requires time and patience. You may produce multiple generations before you get a decent show chick.

Showing birds also means that you will most likely have to part with some of your birds. It's hard but try not to get overly attached. I have one or two of mine that I will never sell regardless of their show quality. However, I have ended up with 4 toed Silkies which unfortunately had to go. It doesn't mean you have to cull them! Don't think that. Many people will buy them off you as pets.

Another part of showing comes down to their care. It's a very important part of it.

Most of the time my Silkies are free range however, free range white birds will usually go yellow over time and that's not desirable to judges. However, before a show, washing with whitening shampoo can clean them up a bit. Of course, Silkies do need to be washed preferably the day before you take them to a show. They also need to be in perfect health and free from illness and parasites.

I tend to cage my birds in rabbit hutches 2 weeks before a show. This gets them used to being in a cage and makes sure their feathers aren't damaged by other birds etc. During this time I treat them for any form of parasites and handle them everyday.

A judge can disqualify a bird that's not tolerant of being handled or shows any illness.

I know at first it all sound so scary and kinda like a place you don't feel like you could fit in with the 'top breeders' out there. I know that feeling.

I started out showing just for fun, and it's still just for fun. I don't care if I don't win anything, I take it as a bonus if I do. However, there is people out there that take it very seriously. At my last show some guy ripped up his second prize ticket because he didn't come first. I don't understand some people...

However, you won't be the only one that the show that's just starting. Every time I go there is always new people there.

Some join that know they don't have show quality birds, they do it for fun and for the experience.

It's worth you getting 2 Silkie hens and once they have started laying, take them to a show. Ignore the fact that one may have too much hard feathering or other 'imperfect' features it's still worth taking them.

When you are there with them, have a look at other birds there, talk to the breeders. Most importantly, talk to the judge that judged the class you entered!

They will talk through you what's good about your bird and what's not.

I can guarantee you that people won't care if you've enetered a Silkie that's not the best show standard, you won't be the only one.

It's the best place to start and will help you decide if it's really something you are interested in doing!

Oh, I'd also advice purchasing a breed standard book which will give you all the info on what is required of a show Silkie (such as colour and combs etc).

I hope this helps of some sort. If I've missed anything out or you have any other questions just ask I'm always happy to help ​

Thank you so much for the information! I am definately doing this for fun, I don't care too much about winning. I think I'm going to buy two adult hens and see how it goes. I'd breed them, but am not allowed roosters in my area. What should I look for in a hen? I know they need poof crest, 5 toes and fluffy feet?

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Thank you so much for the information! I am definately doing this for fun, I don't care too much about winning. I think I'm going to buy two adult hens and see how it goes. I'd breed them, but am not allowed roosters in my area. What should I look for in a hen? I know they need poof crest, 5 toes and fluffy feet?

That's exactly what I do it for!
It's super fun plus they're great pets

So, when you are choosing a female you should have a look for these:
• Black skin on the body and face.
• Preferably back comb and wattles but dark Mullberry is accepted too. (This does count for females as they do still have a small comb and wattles).
• In females the comb and wattles should be small. If they are very large and male-like it'd most likely be marked down by judges. The walnut comb is the one to look for, however that mainly counts for males due to theirs growing larger and more visible.
• The crest should be large and poofy but still round and even. No one wants a patchy crest
However, you don't want the crest feathers to be causing any irritation or damage to the hens eyes.
• Choose a solid colour! White tends to prove popular with judges but they require more bathing due to them turning yellow. However, only certain colours are accepted for showing. I know for sure pure white and pure black Silkies are accepted in America but you may have to have a ask around to double check what other colours can be shown over there. In the UK we can also show colours like partridge.
• Look for body shape and posture! It's hard to describe but I've found judges prefer a shorter more stocky/dumpy Silkie hen. That kinda looks like it's been pushed together, more of a ball shape with the poofy tail.
• Look for very little hard feathering. Hard feathers are allowed on the primary and secondary wing feathers but they tend to look scraggly. Try to avoid hard feathers anywhere else including the tail.
• Good leg feathering is important. Look for feathering that's not patchy down the outside of the legs that runs onto the top of the outside toe and middle toe next to it.
• 5 toes is also important. It's pointless taking a 4 toed or 6+ toed bird to a show. 5 is the way to go! Make sure they are full toes with the nails on too.
• Pick a bird that is in good health and is lovely and alert. You don't want a super skittish one but you don't want one that looks lethargic.

Hope this helps! If I can think of anything else I'll be sure to let you know ​