Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well the mother is grey but the father I think is golden. Notice the yellow around the neck of the chick. Is it still considered a grey?
Quote: Do you have photos of the parents? I'm thinking partridge or blue partridge. But the blue has to come from somewhere...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Roughly $100. And well worth every penny!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote: Roughly $100. And well worth every penny!

I TOTALLY agree. I refer to my copy frequently and the book has helped me to become much more proficient in the language of genetics.

 

[clairebear]

I have a question. Never had silkies before. Do they need extra warm accommodations in the winter? My coop is open air and the concern is that they'd be warm enough in zone 7.

 

[Adoravachick]

I must be having a stroke of bad luck. After losing our black show hen suddenly, last night we lost our Mille Fluer D'uccle hen. No symptoms, just dead. She has always been separated from the others in the barn because she flies. I don't know what to do.
This morning I went down to the barn and my blue cockerel (not my breeding one) is lethargic, off balance, and his legs are very wobbly when he walks. Almost to the point of walking on his hocks. I am completely at a loss and I am worried about my breeders remaining healthy. Any ideas on what this cockerel has? I am now worried I will lose my whole flock one by one.

 

[peepblessed]

[/URL]What color would you call this chick?

I would lean toward blue partridge.

I must be having a stroke of bad luck. After losing our black show hen suddenly, last night we lost our Mille Fluer D'uccle hen. No symptoms, just dead. She has always been separated from the others in the barn because she flies. I don't know what to do.
This morning I went down to the barn and my blue cockerel (not my breeding one) is lethargic, off balance, and his legs are very wobbly when he walks. Almost to the point of walking on his hocks. I am completely at a loss and I am worried about my breeders remaining healthy. Any ideas on what this cockerel has? I am now worried I will lose my whole flock one by one.

Ugh!!! I'm so sorry!! This is all our worst nightmare. Hope someone can advise you.

 

[peepblessed]

I have a question. Never had silkies before. Do they need extra warm accommodations in the winter? My coop is open air and the concern is that they'd be warm enough in zone 7.

Silkies do fine in very cold weather if they are protected from wind and rain. We get the low teens here in the mountains. Heat is a much bigger problem.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I must be having a stroke of bad luck. After losing our black show hen suddenly, last night we lost our Mille Fluer D'uccle hen. No symptoms, just dead. She has always been separated from the others in the barn because she flies. I don't know what to do.
This morning I went down to the barn and my blue cockerel (not my breeding one) is lethargic, off balance, and his legs are very wobbly when he walks. Almost to the point of walking on his hocks. I am completely at a loss and I am worried about my breeders remaining healthy. Any ideas on what this cockerel has? I am now worried I will lose my whole flock one by one.

The latest cockerel sounds like it could be Mareks. How old/young is the cockerel? Mareks usually effects younger birds. Have you disposed of your D'uccle? If you can stomach it, you might want to autopsy the D'uccle. If Mareks is the problem, you'll see it on her organs.

So sorry you are going through this. I hope you get to the bottom of it before you lose anymore.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I have to say, I think my Silkies are coping with the cold MUCH better than my poor White Rock Frizzle. He has a tough time staying warm when it gets cold. In fact, he spent some time inside my coat yesterday. Blustery day and he had a pretty bad case of the shivers.

 

[clairebear]

The latest cockerel sounds like it could be Mareks. How old/young is the cockerel? Mareks usually effects younger birds. Have you disposed of your D'uccle? If you can stomach it, you might want to autopsy the D'uccle. If Mareks is the problem, you'll see it on her organs.

So sorry you are going through this. I hope you get to the bottom of it before you lose anymore.

Oh nooo....... It sounds a lot like Mareks. Seems worth the cost of the testing to find out. There isn't always tumors but a histology would tell you even if there aren't any. Mareks can also kill birds overnight without showing any symptoms, unfortunately, and it's really contagious. I hope that's not what you're dealing with in any case. Hope you get to the bottom of it. So sorry for your loss. It's hard losing birds for any reason.