Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[PaintedFeathers]

I didn't know what a kidney cup is either...still not sure how it would be beneficial. Not getting the ikea cups either! Maybe the pics will help. And is there any way that one can have success feeding silkies FF?? Yeah, didn't think so. lol

i've been giving my silkies FF is a feed pan and a small dog bowl, their crests and beards look fine

 

[chisNchickens]

i've been giving my silkies FF is a feed pan and a small dog bowl, their crests and beards look fine

Wow, I must have a bunch of stinkers then because they wear it. All over their face, crest, beard, chest. Everywhere. And I am using a thicker consistency too. Or I should say WAS. No more, back to pellets unless I can devise a way to keep them clean. These birds will drive you crazy I swear.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Ha! Mine are covered in their feed too! Yesterday I caught one of the chicks rolling (literally, looked like it was dust bathing) in the FF. What a mess! I make mine a thicker consistency too, but it doesn't help. They do great on it though, so messy faces and dirty babies are worth it, IMO.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Ha! Mine are covered in their feed too! Yesterday I caught one of the chicks rolling (literally, looked like it was dust bathing) in the FF. What a mess! I make mine a thicker consistency too, but it doesn't help. They do great on it though, so messy faces and dirty babies are worth it, IMO.

I agree, and while I haven't seen them roll in it (I put it in the bottom of one of those auto feeders so they can't really get into the food) the fast growth, lack of poop smell, no wasted food scattered all over the brooder and the reduction in how much they eat has me sold on it. I don't think I will go back to dry - except when I am not home.

They do tend to wear it on their heads, feet and faces, but everybody else helps them clean it off...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Left to right, top to bottom:
Ikea Cup; 1 pint rectangular coop cup
1 pint Kidney cup; 1/2 pint round cup


Ikea Cup; 1 pint Kidney cup;
1 pint rectangular coop cup; 1/2 pint round cup

 

[thedragonlady]

Left to right, top to bottom:
Ikea Cup; 1 pint rectangular coop cup
1 pint Kidney cup; 1/2 pint round cup


Ikea Cup; 1 pint Kidney cup;
1 pint rectangular coop cup; 1/2 pint round cup

That shallow, black kidney cup is what you want. You don't have to fill it ! Silkies eat side to side.They're throwing feed to get what's at the bottom, and rubbing their crests off in the process.

 

[Sanna]

Left to right, top to bottom:
Ikea Cup; 1 pint rectangular coop cup
1 pint Kidney cup; 1/2 pint round cup


Ikea Cup; 1 pint Kidney cup;
1 pint rectangular coop cup; 1/2 pint round cup

Where would you find one of those little 1/2 pint round cups? I think that'd make a good water cup when showing.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Almost all the online poultry supply houses have them; you can also purchase in feed stores, but they cost about twice as much (or more).

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: I don;t know. I've been less satisfied with them than with the ikea cups or even the round ones. Kind of depends on the number of birds, and what works best for one bird does not always work best for different bird. I just got some parrot crocks on clearance, and am fairly happy with the lack of feed throwing. Not quite sure how to describe, but it's like the top has a lip around the opening making it smaller than the size of the crock So they can't bill out the feed.

 

[thedragonlady]

I don;t know. I've been less satisfied with them than with the ikea cups or even the round ones. Kind of depends on the number of birds, and what works best for one bird does not always work best for different bird. I just got some parrot crocks on clearance, and am fairly happy with the lack of feed throwing. Not quite sure how to describe, but it's like the top has a lip around the opening making it smaller than the size of the crock So they can't bill out the feed.

My show Silkies always lived in 2x 2 Jap coops, so each had their own water bottle and feed cup.I can't imagine using a water CUP at a show ! Mine would have been a mess. I used small plastic pop bottles of my own water at the shows.