Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Hawkeye95]

Here is a discussion on another site about wry tail. It does not give a definitive cause, but thought you might like to see this --->
http://www.the-coop.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=105658#Post105658

Thank you! Oh and I meant to say a while back, thank you for finding the link for George's pens in his building! I have seen those and I think that is really similar to what I will do. I appreciate you thinking of me!

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.

X2--agree! I would NEVER throw a fit or yell at a judge. I can't even imagine a person doing that! So uncalled for. When you enter a show-- you are ASKING a judge's opinion. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can behave badly.

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.

I did not contest the bird that I had DQ'd on weight. I figured that judge knew a lot more than I did! I wasn't thrilled with the outcome, but oh well. Live and learn. I agree with Sonoran-- you should know your birds weight BEFORE you go to the show. I should have done that.

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

good idea!!

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....

Don't worry about being DQ'd. If you are doing your research and know the Standard and only take birds that meet the standard, it just won't happen.

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

From my experience, the judges that have judged my birds have all been very nice! So much so, that you should feel free to ask them questions after the show when they aren't busy and they were all very helpful. Just be polite and friendly! I clerked at a show in August and we did have ONE bad encounter-- a woman came up to the judge FURIOUS about her bird being DQ'd. He had to explain to her that she brought a "hatchery quality production red layer" to the show instead of the Rhode Island Red she was claiming it to be. It just made her look very, very dumb. Be careful what you are doing! LOL She went off in a huff after he explained that to her, and I had a good laugh over that one. I even remember which bird it was. It was a very small show-- we only had about 100 birds. But I'm the new Superintendent for our county now, and for next year, I'm going to send out an attachment to the registration form that has a Judging Etiquette on it, because we had very rude people trying to talk to the judge while he was judging, and people that ignored the rope across the aisle to keep them out, etc... It was crazy. Maybe I should even make them sign it so I know they READ it.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Part of the job of show superintendent and clerk is preventing people from interfering with judging. I like your idea of an "etiquette" attachment

 

[Hawkeye95]

Part of the job of show superintendent and clerk is preventing people from interfering with judging. I like your idea of an "etiquette" attachment

It was my first time and I really didn't expect people to be so rude. I was told ahead of time this same thing. But I honestly didn't think that people would be so crazy as to take down the rope or step over it and get into the aisle during judging. I stopped a couple of people and had them go back, but I'm going to have to get meaner. I just hate to be rude also, but I can see that I'm just going to have to. I think if I were to send out the attachment with registration of how people should behave during a show and what NOT to do... it will help with the number of rude people I deal with next time. Also, I was trying to pin ribbons, and keep the judge on track. I hope I get better at it, it was harder than I thought because of the pace. I was having a hard time keeping up-- he was a fast judge! I have sooooo much to learn!! If you guys have helped or clerked-- how did you deal with people doing that?

 

[chickendales]

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....

this how i think of it u pay some for there $3 opinion and that what u have take it as a $3 opinion lol

 

[chickendales]

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


Good to know!

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

Sonoran, I LOVE your input!

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.

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




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.


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

that judges just pick up 100 plus birds that day and bantams size give take and are diffrent by breed and with out judge going looking it up and weight ing them that is bull **** Dq

 

[Adoravachick]

I went to a local tailgate yesterday and I wasn't expecting to see any silkies. (there weren't any at the last tailgate) I brought 8 birds, came home with 2 hen of the original 8. Imagine my surprise when I got there and it was Silkieville, so many silkies! I saw some whites and blues that caught my eye while driving in, most everything else looked hatchery quality. I got there late so I was way at the back, so by the time they got to me, they had spent most of their money. When it was slow, I quickly made my way down to the silkies that I had scoped out on my way in. They were LOVELY birds! I couldn't believe my luck. I looked them ALL over, with the owners help, and picked out 6. He laughed and said "I have NEVER had someone at a tailgate be so thorough about checking the my birds. Most people just say pick out a "cute one" and walk away." I was afraid that I may have offended him a little by my approach. Turns out, he's an avid local breeder and shows regulary, so he wasn't offended at all. In fact, he seemed delighted. We talked shop, he told me all about his silkies and how he strives for the best. While these birds, many of them 4 or 5 months, had some filling out to do, they had TONS of potential. The foundation was there. I walked away with 2 splash hens, 1 blue hen, 1 blue roo, and a pair of whites and they were priced to move. $5 a piece! Can you believe it?!?! I will post some pics later. The gentlemen came down to my birds and he was very surprised with their quality, in fact, he wanted my blue roo until we talked about the comb. I said "This is why he is here, I don't want to breed that into my pen". He shook his head and said "That is a shame, everything else is there". Overall, it was a great day! Came home with some fantastic birds and made a couple of new friends. I just wanted to THANK YOU guys for your support and sharing all of your knowledge. I have learned so much!

 

[chickendales]

It was my first time and I really didn't expect people to be so rude. I was told ahead of time this same thing. But I honestly didn't think that people would be so crazy as to take down the rope or step over it and get into the aisle during judging. I stopped a couple of people and had them go back, but I'm going to have to get meaner. I just hate to be rude also, but I can see that I'm just going to have to. I think if I were to send out the attachment with registration of how people should behave during a show and what NOT to do... it will help with the number of rude people I deal with next time. Also, I was trying to pin ribbons, and keep the judge on track. I hope I get better at it, it was harder than I thought because of the pace. I was having a hard time keeping up-- he was a fast judge! I have sooooo much to learn!! If you guys have helped or clerked-- how did you deal with people doing that?

sound like job for me i love to be nasty lol

 

[chickendales]

Thank you! Oh and I meant to say a while back, thank you for finding the link for George's pens in his building! I have seen those and I think that is really similar to what I will do. I appreciate you thinking of me!

X2--agree! I would NEVER throw a fit or yell at a judge. I can't even imagine a person doing that! So uncalled for. When you enter a show-- you are ASKING a judge's opinion. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can behave badly.

I did not contest the bird that I had DQ'd on weight. I figured that judge knew a lot more than I did! I wasn't thrilled with the outcome, but oh well. Live and learn. I agree with Sonoran-- you should know your birds weight BEFORE you go to the show. I should have done that.


good idea!!


Don't worry about being DQ'd. If you are doing your research and know the Standard and only take birds that meet the standard, it just won't happen.

From my experience, the judges that have judged my birds have all been very nice! So much so, that you should feel free to ask them questions after the show when they aren't busy and they were all very helpful. Just be polite and friendly! I clerked at a show in August and we did have ONE bad encounter-- a woman came up to the judge FURIOUS about her bird being DQ'd. He had to explain to her that she brought a "hatchery quality production red layer" to the show instead of the Rhode Island Red she was claiming it to be. It just made her look very, very dumb. Be careful what you are doing! LOL She went off in a huff after he explained that to her, and I had a good laugh over that one. I even remember which bird it was. It was a very small show-- we only had about 100 birds. But I'm the new Superintendent for our county now, and for next year, I'm going to send out an attachment to the registration form that has a Judging Etiquette on it, because we had very rude people trying to talk to the judge while he was judging, and people that ignored the rope across the aisle to keep them out, etc... It was crazy. Maybe I should even make them sign it so I know they READ it.

and some judges hate silkies and well dq for any thing

 

[Hawkeye95]

that judges just pick up 100 plus birds that day and bantams size give take and are diffrent by breed and with out judge going looking it up and weight ing them that is bull **** Dq

With much respect, how can it be bull? He was absolutely correct about my bird. And he was right to DQ him, too. Or any other bird that weighed in too heavy or light. I didn't like it, but all the same, when I went home to weigh him, he was indeed over weight by several ounces and certainly not within the 20% weight allowance. Had I been more experienced and thought to weigh him before I left, I never would have taken an over weight bird to the show. This was my fault-- the fault of the owner. I look at it this way-- WE, as breeders, are responsible for ONLY bringing birds that meet the SOP. If our birds don't meet the SOP, then by what right should we be upset for being DQ'd? We need to always be ethical in our breeding and in who we select for our show birds. I have learned a lot by going to shows. These judges know their birds. This one in particular that DQ'd my bird on weight is VERY familiar with Silkies. He was an out of State judge that the show hired to come in. Judges are supposed to know the weight limit on all breeds and what that feels like. And if they judge many shows in a season, they know what they are doing. So far, all of the judges I've encountered have been much older, so I can only imagine how many years of experience they have had. They know what they are doing, whether they have picked up 20 birds or 200 that day. I'm not a judge-- and frankly never will be, there is no way I could pass the testing they have to do! So my respect for them is unequivocal; they deserve it.

Ultimately, we can not fault a judge for our own mistakes.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I went to a local tailgate yesterday and I wasn't expecting to see any silkies. (there weren't any at the last tailgate) I brought 8 birds, came home with 2 hen of the original 8. Imagine my surprise when I got there and it was Silkieville, so many silkies! I saw some whites and blues that caught my eye while driving in, most everything else looked hatchery quality. I got there late so I was way at the back, so by the time they got to me, they had spent most of their money. When it was slow, I quickly made my way down to the silkies that I had scoped out on my way in. They were LOVELY birds! I couldn't believe my luck. I looked them ALL over, with the owners help, and picked out 6. He laughed and said "I have NEVER had someone at a tailgate be so thorough about checking the my birds. Most people just say pick out a "cute one" and walk away." I was afraid that I may have offended him a little by my approach. Turns out, he's an avid local breeder and shows regulary, so he wasn't offended at all. In fact, he seemed delighted. We talked shop, he told me all about his silkies and how he strives for the best. While these birds, many of them 4 or 5 months, had some filling out to do, they had TONS of potential. The foundation was there. I walked away with 2 splash hens, 1 blue hen, 1 blue roo, and a pair of whites and they were priced to move. $5 a piece! Can you believe it?!?! I will post some pics later. The gentlemen came down to my birds and he was very surprised with their quality, in fact, he wanted my blue roo until we talked about the comb. I said "This is why he is here, I don't want to breed that into my pen". He shook his head and said "That is a shame, everything else is there". Overall, it was a great day! Came home with some fantastic birds and made a couple of new friends. I just wanted to THANK YOU guys for your support and sharing all of your knowledge. I have learned so much!

You're doing great!! Sounds like a really fun day for you! So neat that you met up with another silkie breeder. Sooo... do we get to see pictures soon?

sound like job for me i love to be nasty lol

I absolutely abhor being rude and mean to people. Everyone should be treated fairly and kindly, in my opinion. Some people make it very difficult to hold myself to this standard, for sure, but all the same, no one deserves less than polite and tactful treatment.

and some judges hate silkies and well dq for any thing

I'm very grateful that I have not run into a judge that hates Silkies. I will be going to the ASBC Eastern Nationals in October, and I do not expect the judges to be anything but careful in their evaluation.