Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[thedragonlady]

About this AI:I have a very important question. (for me lol) I am ok at doing it but I have the roosters legs between my legs and he is upright. I sit on a stool and stroke his back, then do the process under the tail to get the sperm. My problem is that two hands aren't enough for me. When I grab the plastic spoon, and I have my other hand under the tail area ,, there is so much fluff in the way that I need a third hand to move the fluff. When I try moving the fluff with my hand that is under the tail area, the sperm is not there. I hope this makes sense but wasn't too explicit. Any ideas on how to guide me? Thanks

Hold cock bird in your hand, massage and clamp with other, and get semen with long eye dropper between your teeth.Easy. Added benefit of getting to know your Cs very well.You can inseminate 3 birds this way.

 

[thedragonlady]

I finally got some decent photos of this cockerel. Barely 6 mths old. Photos don't show his color which is very black with no leakage, though he does have some light under coat so I'm guessing he's blue. His wing fan is great and I couldn't ask for better feet, toes and foot feathering. He has great type which shows somewhat in the photos. Love his small black comb. Vivid blue ear lobs. So, the problem is that two of his siblings out of the more than a dozen I've raised or still have access to have wry tail. The father had a slightly off tail that I was positive was from an injury I saw occur but now I'm doubting that and he is retired! I would love to use this guy in my program with unrelated birds but wondering if that is a mistake. What do you all think?

Grab that bird! He has color and type. Check your females before you breed.

 

[peepblessed]

peepblessed your cockerel is beautiful! I am not qualified to give suggestions on breeding though. Just Beautiful.

Thank you! I really love him and he's really sweet to boot!

 

[peepblessed]

Grab that bird! He has color and type. Check your females before you breed.

Thanks, I really appreciate your feed back! Would I be making a mistake to breed him to lavender since he's likely blue?

 

[ChicksNherps]

Most genetics folks think that paint is likely dominant white, in which case being het. and hidden is not normally possible; it would show.

I would have to take a good look at him, but i'm pretty sure he is completely black. So does that mean he would not throw paint just black?

 

[Adoravachick]

I finally got some decent photos of this cockerel. Barely 6 mths old. Photos don't show his color which is very black with no leakage, though he does have some light under coat so I'm guessing he's blue. His wing fan is great and I couldn't ask for better feet, toes and foot feathering. He has great type which shows somewhat in the photos. Love his small black comb. Vivid blue ear lobs. So, the problem is that two of his siblings out of the more than a dozen I've raised or still have access to have wry tail. The father had a slightly off tail that I was positive was from an injury I saw occur but now I'm doubting that and he is retired! I would love to use this guy in my program with unrelated birds but wondering if that is a mistake. What do you all think?

Wow Peep!!!! You've gotta give that boy a try. GORGEOUS!!

 

[thedragonlady]

Thanks, I really appreciate your feed back! Would I be making a mistake to breed him to lavender since he's likely blue?

I never bred dilutes, which real blue is. I have had too many bad experiences with dilute dogs such as Sharpeis, Isabella, and fawn dobes, and the grey gene in Suffolk sheep, You'll do most of your winning anyway with a black or white. I'd breed him to a black or white hen. Then pour the Boss to the chicks and him.

 

[Adoravachick]

I am now in the Market for a new rooster for next season. There is a show here in Cobleskill, NY at the end of the month. I am hoping that I can pick up something really beautiful there. I am looking for blue or black for my BBS pen. Thanks to Peepblessed's roo, I now have it in my head exactly what I want.

 

[Adoravachick]

I never bred dilutes, which real blue is. I have had too many bad experiences with dilute dogs such as Sharpeis, Isabella, and fawn dobes, and the grey gene in Suffolk sheep, You'll do most of your winning anyway with a black or white. I'd breed him to a black or white hen. Then pour the Boss to the chicks and him.

I didn't realize that real blue is a dilute? Can you explain? I would appreciate it. Oh, and I have been using the downy as a rinse for my birds and they SMELL WONDERFUL. Thanks for that tip.

 

[thedragonlady]

I didn't realize that real blue is a dilute? Can you explain? I would appreciate it. Oh, and I have been using the downy as a rinse for my birds and they SMELL WONDERFUL. Thanks for that tip.

I was really thinking about lavender, not self blue, which still has a strong black influence in the lacing on featherd birds. When you dilute the black gene to get that lavender color,with no black showing, you will run into problems. Trust me on this one. It covers all species of animals, and birds.As long as the black influence is there, you are safe. Breed it out, and you are opening up a can of worms.

The Downey does smell nice, doesn't it? Did you see more soft loft of cushion too?