Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[ChicksNherps]

Yeah she was free haha. But she's my midget baby so I don't care. Plus I have a new speckled Sussex that is so cute, I think she'll do well

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: DEFINITELY not partridge. Looks like a buff with a dark head. Wings might be an issue, but I am more concerned with her spine/tail. After the previous comments on the possible wry tail, it has me seeing things that I hope are not present, but am definitely concerned may be...I just see a lot of really hunched looking photos. Also, I am not convinced either way on gender of either of them.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: In my very limited experience with wry tail/roachback, (two birds in 12 years of breeding), yes, it appears quite suddenly, and that is about the age.

 

[ChicksNherps]

I don't know what to look for with spine issues or wry tail, I bathe them regularly and don't notice anything. What would I have to look for?

 

[littlecritters]

I want to show my silkies this october, so let the critiques flow! I got them from a local breeder. The light partridge pullet is about 5 months, the splash is about 6 months and I think he is a cockerel but not completely positive.

Sonoran- her back does indeed look rounded. She reminds me of my little splash with the scoliosis (whose back is hunched and hips are uneven height).

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Good description---that is what you look for...

 

[aoxa]

I have been told that some large fowl that are born in october or november and raised outside have stunted growth but carry the full size genes.  They just never catch up but their offspring are normal size.  This could be the case with your hen.  I have a roo that is way over weight but a hen that is smaller and they throw average and over weight offspring.  Just a thought.  

She was born in May last year, so that wouldn't be my issue. I do have some standard birds that were born in the fall, and are definitely not stunted

 

[Hawkeye95]

In my very limited experience with wry tail/roachback, (two birds in 12 years of breeding), yes, it appears quite suddenly, and that is about the age.

Well..... crud!!! Ugh. Okay, it's not like I don't have many more growing out, but she is starting to look sooooo good. That really stinks.

She was born in May last year, so that wouldn't be my issue. I do have some standard birds that were born in the fall, and are definitely not stunted

I bought my laying flock in October (as day old chicks) and none of them are stunted either. I've never heard of the time of year stunting them. I think it all comes down to genetics. I have two runts right now, and they were hatched in June. They are teeny tiny-- and it's nothing to do with the feed or anything like that. I think it comes down to who their parents are. Their siblings are normal sized. These are shipped eggs I hatched-- so I don't have the parents and I have no idea what paring resulted in these little bitty runts. I'm guessing they are either slow growing/maturing or just genetically going to be smaller.

 

[ChicksNherps]

I will give her a bath today and take a look, maybe some pictures too. for help. Her back doesn't seem hunched when I bathe her but I may just have never noticed. I will also do some of my splash. Is is life threatening or just a disqualification?

 

[aoxa]

Well..... crud!!! Ugh. Okay, it's not like I don't have many more growing out, but she is starting to look sooooo good. That really stinks. I bought my laying flock in October (as day old chicks) and none of them are stunted either. I've never heard of the time of year stunting them. I think it all comes down to genetics. I have two runts right now, and they were hatched in June. They are teeny tiny-- and it's nothing to do with the feed or anything like that. I think it comes down to who their parents are. Their siblings are normal sized. These are shipped eggs I hatched-- so I don't have the parents and I have no idea what paring resulted in these little bitty runts. I'm guessing they are either slow growing/maturing or just genetically going to be smaller.

Well she is really sweet, and doesn't give off many runt babies. Not sure why her babies are the same size of her so young. I will have to weigh her to let you know how much smaller she is then she should be. Or maybe my other hen is just way too large Right now she definitely isn't. She is very light because of all this broodiness business. She looks really fat though. ETA: Image

Hehehe.. Don't you love co-parenting silkies? The smaller one is up front.