Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Hawkeye95]

What about posting something on ASBC and creating a corresponding small photo gallery with pics of your birds? You can ask folks for specific feedback on your birds and maybe we can get some more detailed information?

I've been thru their wing files-- they are not any more clear than the questions I am asking. There are simply notes on wings that say "bad wing" or whatever. But if you put a fine point on it, a lot of them don't really know either-- BUT they can spot a bad wing. Now I can too.... but I want to know what exactly constitues a split and whats going on with my birds with all the feathers growing in the same direction vs the one that has growth in two different directions.

I will post tomorrow about what he says. Cooping in my birds at 10 am and helping out until supper time. I hope he has entered some of his own silkies so I can gawk

I hope you have something to tell us soon!

 

[Me & Jack]

I've been thru their wing files-- they are not any more clear than the questions I am asking. There are simply notes on wings that say "bad wing" or whatever. But if you put a fine point on it, a lot of them don't really know either-- BUT they can spot a bad wing. Now I can too.... but I want to know what exactly constitues a split and whats going on with my birds with all the feathers growing in the same direction vs the one that has growth in two different directions.

I beg to differ. There are a lot of people on the ASBC site who can tell a good wing from a bad wing with their eyes closed. To "put a fine point on it", maybe posting the questions you have directly on the ASBC forum will get you more specific answers. Try posting on the FB chat pages, too. I am sure you'll get plenty of specific feedback from those who show and breed and who know the difference between a split wing, a slipped wing, a weak wing, a wing carried poorly, etc.

 

[Me & Jack]

It looks like split wing to me. I had two silkies with angel wing. I kept two babies in the house with the light on all the time for 8 wks and suddenly realized their wings had gotten huge and were folding wrong because of the extra weight. Obviously caused by eating day and night. I had babies the same age out side that were half their size. Same parents too.

What we refer to a "slipped wing" sounds more like what you are referring to as angel wing (what they call it when the primaries are held out from the body in waterfowl only). Slipped wing is when the primaries and secondaries don't fold in properly, with the former completely folding under the latter. This might mean that only one feather sticks out rather than folding under. Weak wings refer to wings being carried loosely or that appear to be split but are not technically split wings. Split wing is when there is an obvious gap between the primary and secondary feathers caused by the actual absence of a feather and corresponding follicle. It is not as common as people think, and a lot of weak wings (poorly or loosely carried) and slipped wings (improperly folding/carried) are inaccurately called "split wing" when there is technically no absent feather. Hope this helps.

 

[Hawkeye95]

What we refer to a "slipped wing" sounds more like what you are referring to as angel wing (what they call it when the primaries are held out from the body in waterfowl only). Slipped wing is when the primaries and secondaries don't fold in properly, with the former completely folding under the latter. This might mean that only one feather sticks out rather than folding under. Weak wings refer to wings being carried loosely or that appear to be split but are not technically split wings. Split wing is when there is an obvious gap between the primary and secondary feathers caused by the actual absence of a feather and corresponding follicle. It is not as common as people think, and a lot of weak wings (poorly or loosely carried) and slipped wings (improperly folding/carried) are inaccurately called "split wing" when there is technically no absent feather. Hope this helps.

Okay, THAT is what we've been asking! LOL! What about wings that grow in two different directions? From your description, it sounds like what I have is indeed NOT a split wing, then. Because, the feathers are all there, but they are not growing in one direction. If that is the case, what kind of wing issue do I have? I was thinking this was a split. But I'm happy to be wrong. This is my own bird, BTW.

 

[peepblessed]

What we refer to a "slipped wing" sounds more like what you are referring to as angel wing (what they call it when the primaries are held out from the body in waterfowl only). Slipped wing is when the primaries and secondaries don't fold in properly, with the former completely folding under the latter. This might mean that only one feather sticks out rather than folding under. Weak wings refer to wings being carried loosely or that appear to be split but are not technically split wings. Split wing is when there is an obvious gap between the primary and secondary feathers caused by the actual absence of a feather and corresponding follicle. It is not as common as people think, and a lot of weak wings (poorly or loosely carried) and slipped wings (improperly folding/carried) are inaccurately called "split wing" when there is technically no absent feather. Hope this helps.

Great info! Thanks!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Great info! Thanks!!

X2!

 

[Me & Jack]

Okay, THAT is what we've been asking! LOL! What about wings that grow in two different directions? From your description, it sounds like what I have is indeed NOT a split wing, then. Because, the feathers are all there, but they are not growing in one direction. If that is the case, what kind of wing issue do I have? I was thinking this was a split. But I'm happy to be wrong. This is my own bird, BTW.

I can't tell you for sure if it's an actual split...but look to see if there's an obvious gap without even a feather follicle. The primary feathers are not easy for me to tell because of the way you're holding them out -- they should fan more in an arch. Same with the secondary feathers, which also appear to be twisted or growing upwards, kinda like a frizzle, only this doesn't appear to be a frizzled bird. What do the wings look like when they are being held or carried naturally. Are they tucked in tight, with the primaries folding underneath the secondaries? If not, then I'd say you have slipped wing, and it might even be a weak wing, too, if the wing hangs down or loose in a natural position. Chances are it's not a split wing (it COULD be) but weak/slipped wing is more likely. Basically, it's just not a nicely formed wing from the looks of it with the gap and the twisted secondaries, the lack of an arched fan in the primaries... Not something you want to breed with unless there's some outstanding type going on. Can you take a pic of the bird from the side standing in a natural pose?

 

[Hawkeye95]

I can't tell you for sure if it's an actual split...but look to see if there's an obvious gap without even a feather follicle. The primary feathers are not easy for me to tell because of the way you're holding them out -- they should fan more in an arch. Same with the secondary feathers, which also appear to be twisted or growing upwards, kinda like a frizzle, only this doesn't appear to be a frizzled bird. What do the wings look like when they are being held or carried naturally. Are they tucked in tight, with the primaries folding underneath the secondaries? If not, then I'd say you have slipped wing, and it might even be a weak wing, too, if the wing hangs down or loose in a natural position. Chances are it's not a split wing (it COULD be) but weak/slipped wing is more likely. Basically, it's just not a nicely formed wing from the looks of it with the gap and the twisted secondaries, the lack of an arched fan in the primaries... Not something you want to breed with unless there's some outstanding type going on. Can you take a pic of the bird from the side standing in a natural pose?

YES I can!! I would love for you to critique her and her wings! Thank you!! I have to run, we're going out to dinner, but I'll get a couple pictures up tomorrow of what she looks like.

Oh-- she's right at 4 months old, so still pretty young. Right now, I'll post a picture i took of her at the Fair a couple weeks ago. I did not notice all the things I'm noticing now on her. BTW, it was 115 degrees, so she was droopy. I'll take a picture in the evening or morning so you can see how she normally holds her wings when she is happy and feeling good. There won't be much difference in the way they lay, I don't think.... Anyway, more pictures to come!

 

[aoxa]

I've been thru their wing files-- they are not any more clear than the questions I am asking.  There are simply notes on wings that say "bad wing" or whatever.  But if you put a fine point on it, a lot of them don't really know either-- BUT they can spot a bad wing.  Now I can too.... but I want to know what exactly constitues a split and whats going on with my birds with all the feathers growing in the same direction vs the one that has growth in two different directions.  

I hope you have something to tell us soon!  

Okay, so I've just got back from a very long weekend.

He said SPLIT WING is two different directions, weak wing can be a few different things. It can be holding it loosely, or it could even mean they are missing a wing feather. He said that there are a ton of ways to improve on wings in silkies (he said mine were really good! ). I also took some pictures of one of his up and coming girls (6 months) she is absolutely stunning. Said she is the best he has ever raised at this age. She was born in March and you should see her cushion!

Anyway.. Split wing is a DQ. He said that weak wing is often deducted points, and is not a DQ.

Pictures to come! I won best in class for my mottled houdans, but my partridge silkie girl only won best variety (which she was the only partridge anyway ). Oh and won BB on my barred rock pullet too! First show and it was really fun

 

[aoxa]

Okay so here are some pictures of Jamie's silkie (the judge I was mentioning).

A bantam buff brahma beat her.