Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[emvickrey]

In all my years of breeding and showing Silkies I NEVER used a brush on one. I only used a hairdryer on low. It is too easy to injure pin feathers with a brush.

You have to be careful of course. The longer pin feathers it helps remove the shaft so the feather fluffs up and hides the smaller pin feathers. My birds love it even the house chicken which is by no means a show silkie. Most people would have culled her but I didn't. She was so sweet. She was still growing feathers here and there when her other brooder mates where outside roaming around and nearly ready to lay eggs. She's the sweetest one I have. She loves to cuddle. When it's bath time she thinks she's a duck and tries to dunk her head under. I always have to hold her head up. My splash roo turns to butter when I brush him.

YOu don't have to make the wires go down to the skin just rake over the top

 

[lflynn5324]

TO TRIM, OR NOT TO TRIM....that is the question. Although I love my Silkies as puffy as they can get, they do run into things and have a hard time seeing their food. Lol what is the advice on this if I don't show them...will they be alright or should I help clear their eyes a little? Thank you guys!!! Here is one of my boys Zeus.

 

[thedragonlady]

TO TRIM, OR NOT TO TRIM....that is the question. Although I love my Silkies as puffy as they can get, they do run into things and have a hard time seeing their food. Lol what is the advice on this if I don't show them...will they be alright or should I help clear their eyes a little? Thank you guys!!! Here is one of my boys Zeus.

If you plan on showing, just tape the crests up with hair setting tape.

 

[emvickrey]

TO TRIM, OR NOT TO TRIM....that is the question. Although I love my Silkies as puffy as they can get, they do run into things and have a hard time seeing their food. Lol what is the advice on this if I don't show them...will they be alright or should I help clear their eyes a little? Thank you guys!!! Here is one of my boys Zeus.

You can carefully trim the feathers enough so they can see since you don't plan to show. Otherwise do as thedragonlady says. I have a house hen that most people would have culled but she is my little buddy. Her head is far from being fluffy. Actually she has just a tinly little fro going on with longer feathers here and there. I always give her a hair cut to round it all up.

 

[mylittlechicken]

My little Silkie chicks having a chat.

 

[ChickNmamma]

My little Silkie chicks having a chat.

Very cute and looks like a good way of keeping them from running off before you get your picture!

 

[MumsyII]

First chicks from pen 2. Seven out so far. Three broodies on another set in the barn but they are constantly stealing eggs from each other and rolling them out of the nest. Not confident those will hatch.

I like these chicks. Good spacing and feathering on toes. This batch are by my Sheryl Butler cockerel. Mr. Bigfoot.
The second picture is to illustrate the difference in down color on these day old white chicks.

 

[thedragonlady]

First chicks from pen 2. Seven out so far. Three broodies on another set in the barn but they are constantly stealing eggs from each other and rolling them out of the nest. Not confident those will hatch.

I like these chicks. Good spacing and feathering on toes. This batch are by my Sheryl Butler cockerel. Mr. Bigfoot.
The second picture is to illustrate the difference in down color on these day old white chicks.

You have red and silver based there.

 

[Jharper]

You have red and silver based there.

That's what my white chicks looked like when they hatch. They have all have white feathers.

 

[thedragonlady]

That's what my white chicks looked like when they hatch. They have all have white feathers.

Well there is white, and there is WHITE.Really White chicks that are carrying Silver, instead of Red, never turn brassy in the sun. They do not carry a red gene to yellow their feathers.Those are the "Stay White chicks ".