Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Me & Jack]

i could just see some crazy old lady flip out on the judge because they weight and Dqed her birds lol

I'd love to see someone try to flip out on the judge! They'd be banned from that show hall permanently and booed from the building. Whatever a judge says goes, whether an exhibitor agrees or not.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Not required. It can certainly be contested, and in that case having a scale on hand would be handy, but I have never known of a show that has. It would behoove an exhibitor to know how his/her birds fare as far as weight goes, and if they are correct, and one is worried about being DQed on size, having a scale available if needed for a protest.

 

[ChicksNherps]

7 and 8 months. Both NPIP tested

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Not entirely. A judgement can be protested, which requires putting up a deposit that is forfeited if the protest is not upheld. The standard lists the procedure for a protest, which includes a committee of three to assess the complaint/protest. It is VERY RARELY done, but I have known people who have done so, or who contemplated doing so. A protest must be registered with the show secretary, and there is usually a time limit for filing the protest--usually within an hour of the bird being judged, and before awards are presented. The time limit can vary from one show to another.

The reality is that people are more likely to grumble than protest, and FWIW, when people (note the plural) for one breed are grumbling about a judge, it is usually people from multiple breeds that grumble about him/her. And usually the show staff, too.

 

[ChicksNherps]

I will just get her weighed and see how far off she is.

 

[chickendales]

I will just get her weighed and see how far off she is.

the worst that could happen is the judge Dqs here witch really not big deal ive gone shows where 1\2 silkies where dqed

 

[jsp28504]

the worst that could happen is the judge Dqs here witch really not big deal ive gone shows where 1\2 silkies where dqed

That's one reason I am so fearful of showing... I think I would go home in tears if one of my birds got dq'd....

 

[ChicksNherps]

That's one reason I am so fearful of showing... I think I would go home in tears if one of my birds got dq'd....

I only have 2 birds, so it would really stink, If the judge was rude about it I would probably also be in tears

 

[jsp28504]

I only have 2 birds, so it would really stink, If the judge was rude about it I would probably also be in tears

I only have two, maybe three that I think would do well in a show...

 

[Hawkeye95]

LOL I just call it his big ugly tumor

, but he is a paint not a splash.

I now have 20 Catdance eggs on day nine Going to be a colorful hatch 5 white, 2 blue/splash. 1 black, 4 buff, 2 porcelain, 2 lavender, and 3 paint. If everyone from this point hatches

congrats on your catdance eggs, I hope you have a very good hatch!

Unless bred to a paint, I would be shocked if he threw paint chicks.

Good to know!

Lavender IS self blue. Lavender dilutes BOTH eumelanin and pheomelanin (black and red pigments, respectively). Blue dilutes eumelanin, with slight impact on pheomelanin. Self blue and lacing are pretty much mutually exclusive

I'm keeping this in my files! LOL I'm sure I'm going to need to know this later.

OK, I agree that that is an ugly comb. I have far too many with similar ones. Genetically it is R plus He+. P may or may not be present. Trifid may also be present,

Sonoran, I LOVE your input!

I have a Splash silkie roo. I am looking to buy some hens for him and was thinking a a BBS pen is the way to go. I have never really thought about how many colored hens each there should be if that makes any sense. Should I get two black, two blue, and two splash hens to put in with him? I was thinking what is the reason to get black since it produces 100 blue chicks and if I get a blue hen I will still get blue offspring out of her. Though I think I heard that black helps the color. Any opinions are welcome.

If you want the most color with a Splash roo, then a blue pullet/ hen would give you both blue and splash. So you'd get two colors from one pair.

yeah I know, I said that. They just got baths so I don't want to wet them again. The issue I have is I don't know if she will be disqualified in a show for being too light. There is a very noticeable weight difference when holding them.

I think you did very well with the measuring tape. I think we all understood what you were doing and you explained it very well. I'm going to vote with your pullet is just a smaller girl. None of my girls are the same size. I have some much smaller than others. Some are out of the same exact parents and they still vary in size. If she "feels" like she is well filled out and not bony and skiny, then you should be fine to show her. You should try to weigh her on a mail scale and see how much she weighs. A hen should weigh in at 32 oz and a pullet should weigh in at 28 oz. YES... a Judge WILL disqualify for the wrong weight. I have stated that in previous posts.

I know for a fact he will, because my rooster was DQ'd at our August show for being too heavy. A judge who is extremely good at his job will know when he is lifting a bird that is too heavy or too light. They are that good. I was upset at the time, but said nothing. I went home and weighed my boy-- and guess what? The judge knew what he was talking about. My boy was over weight. So yes, you absolutely must take weight very seriously when you are showing.

Sonoran did make the comment earlier that you can be off your weight by 20% (over or under) I believe. If I'm wrong, I hope she will see this and correct me on what percentage you can be off by.

I'm planning on going to the ASBC Eastern Nationals in October-- so I'll be keeping weight in my mind as I don't want to be DQ'd again at another show! LOL

ive never seen judge put chicken on the scales

No, they won't. But if your judge is worth his salt, he should be able to pick the bird up and know what they weigh.

I have a question about breeding silkies. When you breed a female, how many fertile eggs can she have from one breeding? I am down to 2 silkies, and I don't really want to get another bird right now and was thinking when my girls are finally laying to breed one or both to a really nice male. I could always cull a few, but then I would be risking culling viable ones, or one that could have been awesome.

She should be bred every 2 to 3 days. I do AI every 2-3 days on my birds. AI is artificial insemination. It's easily done on chickens. Search for it on YouTube for a much more graphic demonstration on how to do it. If you have questions after that-- ask me, and I can answer them! I'm pretty darned good at AI now! LOL