Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Caitlin_VT]

Searching for advice as to what birds to keep! I really can't decide... These guys & gals are all about 3-3 1/2 months old. I have the exact hatch date written down somewhere. I'm breeding for variety of color. Also, I think the black is a boy? Thanks!

Cockerels

GREY?


LIGHT PARTRIDGE



BLACK




DARK BLUE PARTRIDGE




Pullets



I have 2 Paint pullets that are hard to distinguish between!


Light Blue Partridge (Keeping her!)




Almost Self-Blue/Silvery (not sure what color she is, hard to depict in a picture!)



Dark Blue Partridge

 

[MawmawKuhl]

Here are some pics of my Lil Dandelion. She is the only Silkies that I have at the moment. A neighboring dog got 13 of my chickens including all my banties and other 3 Silkies. Looking for some more to start up breeding. She had been hand raised and kept in the house following the massacre just moved her back outside last week.

 

[only1bgirl]

Where are you @MawmawKuhl? I've got a bakers dozen of buff silkie eggs in the incubator right now, if they all hatch I'll need homes for half of them, I'm in Oregon. Hatch date is about 15 days away!

 

[aoxa]

Hatched this fella January 15th. I put him in the breeding pen to replace his father. I like him much better.

I've been terrible at taking photos of the Silkies this year. They aren't allowed free ranging, so it's hard to get good photos.


This little one is one of his daughters. She is not in my care, as I sold her as a chick, but showing good promise for one so young! Only 7 weeks old.


More of the Silkies hatched from my birds (7 weeks now) and photo credit to their current owner.

We raise BBS, White and Partridge Silkies.

 

[khawks]

I purchased a cockerel a few days ago, got him home and noticed he has only 4 toes on one of his feet. I get all of my silkies from this breeder. The breeder has assured me that the mom probably bit the toe off (i don't think this is likely) and that it should not breed into his offspring.

Opinions?

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

I purchased a cockerel a few days ago, got him home and noticed he has only 4 toes on one of his feet. I get all of my silkies from this breeder. The breeder has assured me that the mom probably bit the toe off (i don't think this is likely) and that it should not breed into his offspring.

Opinions?

I would not use him to breed unless he is absolutely outstanding in every other way. And then I would cull all incorrect toed offspring.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

That white cock is pretty darn fancy. Hatched this fella January 15th. I put him in the breeding pen to replace his father. I like him much better. I've been terrible at taking photos of the Silkies this year. They aren't allowed free ranging, so it's hard to get good photos. This little one is one of his daughters. She is not in my care, as I sold her as a chick, but showing good promise for one so young! Only 7 weeks old. More of the Silkies hatched from my birds (7 weeks now) and photo credit to their current owner. We raise BBS, White and Partridge Silkies.

 

[flynntheduck]

I love the look (and feel!) of silkies. I just ordered a white and a blue from a hatchery (straight runs). Just to have as pets. I'm curious though if I let them have babies what color would they be? Assuming I end up with opposite sexes.

 

[Uzair Ahmed]

What If I cross a Bearded White Silkie Hen (Walnut) with a Bearded Black Silkie Male (Single Comb)?
Colorwise what type of chicks will i get by this?

 

[aoxa]

I love the look (and feel!) of silkies. I just ordered a white and a blue from a hatchery (straight runs). Just to have as pets. I'm curious though if I let them have babies what color would they be? Assuming I end up with opposite sexes.

What If I cross a Bearded White Silkie Hen (Walnut) with a Bearded Black Silkie Male (Single Comb)?
Colorwise what type of chicks will i get by this?

You guys should direct that question here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/297632/silkie-thread

This thread is for breeding to the standard of perfection. I would never use a single combed Silkie in any breeding. Hatchery Silkie info shouldn't be discussed on a exhibition thread.

You'll get better answers on the thread I mentioned above.

**Note: white to any colour will result in many, many different offspring. White hides other colours, so you will never be sure what you are going to get when using a white**