Silkie Breeders?

[awesomefowl]

Name: Diana B.
BYC name: Awesomefowl
Website (if available): awesomepoultry.weebly.com
Email (PM me about this one, its too dangerous to post it out here): It's a SECRET!!! ha ha!!!
Colors of silkies you raise: I will be breeding partridge and better quality splash/blue hopefully in the spring.
Price: (For eggs, live birds, whatever): Not sure yet, will probably be selling chicks in spring. Probably 3-5 dollars per chick plus shipping.

 

[Tanichca]

Quote:
The only reason i have not yet joined is that i dont have the $15 to spend. Im still a minor, so i cant earn any good money.
And as i said, i have seen the thoroughly hit-and-miss selection of "show quality" birds on CL. Last year i got an absolutely beautiful silkie hen (who died from a spider bite

) and this year i got a rather poor black hen, (bad crest, black earlobes) for the same price.

 

[Tanichca]

Well i might as well do my own intro:
Name: Tatiana!
BYC name: Tanichca!
Website: Um...the non-chicken related Sokore.wordpress.com
Email: Pm Me!
Colors of silkies i (want to) raise: Buffs and Partridges for sure, maybe Cuckoo and Paint eventually.
Price per bird: WHEN i have my own silkie breeding operation, the price will eb probably $2 an egg, $4 for an unsexed chick, and $5-8 for a older,sexed chick, and then from then on prices will vary depending on showabillity, age, color, and gender.

 

[Tanichca]

Anyone else?

 

[Funky Feathers]

Well, if you can't spend $15 for a club membership, how in the world can you afford to buy a SQ Silkie? ??

 

[Tanichca]

Quote:
Because i have no need for a membership. A membership will not get me a blue ribbon or a trophy. A SQ bird will.

 

[Funky Feathers]

So, without the membership (and being able to know who has what for sale for how much, where & when the shows are, and being able to get good advice from top breeders), how do you propose to win? Can you really afford a top Show Silkie ($100 and up)?

 

[destiny_56085]

Good point Steph! I was thinking exactly along those same lines. A subscription to the Poultry Press will also run you $26 per year. That basically tells you where all the shows are and who won what. If you are going to get into showing, a membership in the breed association as well as the APA and/or ABA is also a pretty good idea. As well as all the perks that Steph already mentioned, you also gain points within that breed club for your wins toward Master Breeder/Exhibitor status. There is alot more to showing birds than just buying chicks. They are your network of support to show you how to properly condition and choose birds.

I think you are putting the cart before the horse so to speak.... Even for those of us who do breed and show, we know it takes hundreds of young stock in the growout pens to possibly produce that next show winner. It takes years of building up a solid foundation and gaining a reputation within a breed. If you are already planning on selling chicks, what kind of resume have you built up and why should people buy from you? I hate to burst your bubble, but it takes alot of hard work and usually a good chunk of cash to build up a good flock. You have to get it started and know what those birds are producing for quality before you are going to have customers. The $15 for a association memebrship will be very minor compared to what a breeding pen of birds will cost you. Also.....if you plan on selling/showing, you usually have to get involved with the NPIP program and routinely have your birds tested for disease too. Some states its free, but other do charge for it. You pretty much need it for shipping eggs or live birds across state lines now. Some states (like here in MN) also require a hatchery permit for selling birds under such an age.

 

[Tanichca]

Quote:
Um... what happens if im still a freshman in highschool and have no immediate plans to BE a master showman or exhibitor? I have been saving up money for months, but i cannot see myself being a master breeder until i am at least a senior in college! Plus, any money that i spend is in reality coming out of my parents funds, and my family is going through some financial troubles at the moment. My Dad would think that spending almost thirty bucks on a subscription to a magazine or almost $20 on a membership to something is frivolous and silly. So right now my only plans are to get a good looking silkie for showmanship and breed shows, and maybe raise a few nice silkies for the other 4H kids i know who might want some.

 

[destiny_56085]

Well if you do get any major wins and you aren't a breed association member, you will basically have no record of that win other than a ribbon or trophy to show for it. As a state rep for 2 breed associations, I know that when I turn in my show reports, if a person isn't a club member, then their name is dropped from the show report and no record of it from then on. They aren't eligible for the awards at the shows sponsored by the breed clubs.

If your parents think $15-30 is frivolous, then $100+ per bird will seem ridiculous. If you want something to put you on champ row, the price is generally much higher than that. If you want people to buy from you, you will have to prove that your stock is better than hatchery junk. I've seen them advertised for as low as $2.40 from hatcheries. Now what reason does some lil 4-H kid have to buy chicks for $5 from you when they can get them much cheaper elsewhere? There are sooo many breeders of silkies out there right now. Keep a few birds for fun and maybe buying some cheaper ones off CL might be the route for you right now. If you want to really get into breeding, showing, and selling then be prepared to do your homework and work your way up the ranks.