Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Hawkeye95]

I would suggest asking them to show you where that is listed in the standard; The standard does not list a white base.

Thank you! Sounds like I just learned something here! LOL

Hey all. Another curious question for everyone out there. Does anyone have any good pictures of what the feathering should be like on the middle toe? And what the feet should look like anyway? Is there any difference between a pullet and cockerel's feet? My "show quality" eggs I ordered off ebay hatched out some seriously odd silkies with off wings and feet, at least I think.

Looks like you got some great photos posted!

Whoa!! Those tootsies rock!

Totally agree!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I didn't get a chance to clean her up or anything, its been crazy with 2 sick children, but here are pics of the dirty splash pullet I picked up at the show.

Great coloring! I think you did great!!! However.... I think this one could go either way right now... maybe boy?? Maybe not, but... Either way, you did alright.

(the middle picture looks totally like a girl-- but the other two look like boy) OH-- and do trim up those nails, poor thing! Be sure to have styptic powder or a stick on hand when you do.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Peep-- here is the bird I just got yesterday! Poor thing had a long drive, but I got her bathed and fluffed today.

taking a bath.... (yeah, I had a bit of fun with her and her new 'soap mohawk')

And after her bath:

I'm pretty happy with her!!!! I got her tested yesterday and got her 90 day certification done, so I'm good to go if I decide to take her to the next two shows I have coming up, and I'm thinking I will take her.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Peep-- here is the bird I just got yesterday! Poor thing had a long drive, but I got her bathed and fluffed today.

taking a bath.... (yeah, I had a bit of fun with her and her new 'soap mohawk')

And after her bath:

I'm pretty happy with her!!!! I got her tested yesterday and got her 90 day certification done, so I'm good to go if I decide to take her to the next two shows I have coming up, and I'm thinking I will take her.

WOW, that type is AWESOME!
How old? She looks young...her crest is rather smaller than the rest of her, but with a young bird it will almost certainly grow in longer.

 

[littlecritters]

Peep-- here is the bird I just got yesterday!  Poor thing had a long drive, but I got her bathed and fluffed today.  

taking a bath....  (yeah, I had a bit of fun with her and her new 'soap mohawk')

And after her bath:

  

I'm pretty happy with her!!!!  I got her tested yesterday and got her 90 day certification done, so I'm good to go if I decide to take her to the next two shows I have coming up, and I'm thinking I will take her.  

She's a beauty! Really glad you have her for your flock.

 

[Hawkeye95]

WOW, that type is AWESOME!
How old? She looks young...her crest is rather smaller than the rest of her, but with a young bird it will almost certainly grow in longer.

She's on the young side, but not super young, (about 7 months?) --- her crest took a beating by a rooster that my friend had her in with. A tiny bit of the front part is shortened and it over all looks kind of rough, but she has a TON of pin feathers in it and looks like she has some longer wisps starting to grow out. It looks like a pin cushion up there. I can't believe my luck! LOL

She's a beauty! Really glad you have her for your flock.

Thank you so much, that is awfully sweet of you, LittleCritters!

 

[dwegg]

I am not familiar with him; maybe some other silkie breeders who have show under him would know how well he tends to judge silkies.  Many judges are better at some breeds than at others, and silkies seem to be a breed that has a hard time finding judges that are good.  For one reason, too many judges think that silkies are a sissy bird that don't belong--despite the fact that they are one of the oldest breeds in existence, and have been in both the APA and ABA standard since the organizations were first formed.

For what it may be worth, I have followed the advice of judges (really good ones) and entered birds under the variety name they suggested rather than what I knew them to be and regretted it--every show is different, and as you gain experience, follow what YOU think it correct.

Well i have to agree about judges disliking the silkie...or seem too...in my one and only experience so far I watched carefully as the judge seemed annoyed to have to judge the silkies....he slammed cage doors so hard that they swung back open every time he put the bird back in, man handled the birds quite roughly, and DQ'd a lot of birds...when I asked him why he said that silkies get away with too many faults and people think they can just show anything....

He really wasn't very nice I thought...

 

[Adoravachick]

Peep-- here is the bird I just got yesterday! Poor thing had a long drive, but I got her bathed and fluffed today.

taking a bath.... (yeah, I had a bit of fun with her and her new 'soap mohawk')

And after her bath:

I'm pretty happy with her!!!! I got her tested yesterday and got her 90 day certification done, so I'm good to go if I decide to take her to the next two shows I have coming up, and I'm thinking I will take her.

She is beautiful!

 

[ChicksNherps]

She is beautiful!

lucky

 

[Adoravachick]

Great coloring! I think you did great!!! However.... I think this one could go either way right now... maybe boy?? Maybe not, but... Either way, you did alright.

(the middle picture looks totally like a girl-- but the other two look like boy) OH-- and do trim up those nails, poor thing! Be sure to have styptic powder or a stick on hand when you do.

Thanks. That's why I said I was embarrassed to even post a pic right now....needs a little TLC. Poor thing is right, those nails are WILD.

Maybe during naps I will get this poor thing cleaned up. I will let you ya'll know if I see any real signs being a boy. I have a white cockerel and white pullet that both look like this little spash, bodywise, so it really is a toss up. I did see some other splash cockerels in the same pen and this one looked so feminine compared to the others.
My daughter named him/her Mooshoo (cause the spots look like cow spots, she said).