Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[aoxa]

X2  it's a book of every bird that is recognized in the US with the call outs that list exactly what the bird should look like both in male and female.  Tells you everything from size and weight of the bird, to accepted colors, feet, wings, eye color, type of comb, on and on...  It is pretty specific.  

A judge friend of mine said he would explain it at the show I am helping out at this weekend. I'll let you know his tips. He said that weak wing is a lot more common, and that a lot of silkie lines need improvement with the wings. He's been breeding silkies for 30 years now. Has the best in Canada.

 

[blessedchick]

A judge friend of mine said he would explain it at the show I am helping out at this weekend. I'll let you know his tips. He said that weak wing is a lot more common, and that a lot of silkie lines need improvement with the wings. He's been breeding silkies for 30 years now. Has the best in Canada.

Excellent! I was beginning to think that I'm just dense for not understanding it...my poor birds are getting sick of me checking their wings all of the time...

 

[Hawkeye95]

A judge friend of mine said he would explain it at the show I am helping out at this weekend. I'll let you know his tips. He said that weak wing is a lot more common, and that a lot of silkie lines need improvement with the wings. He's been breeding silkies for 30 years now. Has the best in Canada.

What is a weak wing? If you don't know-- be sure to really have that figured out along with the split wing and come back and tell us!!! LOL! Ask him if the split wing means the feathers are growing in two different directions-- or if they can grow in the same direction and still be considered a split? That is the distinction I really need to know. You saw the picture of the bird I have where it's obvious that the feathers are growing away from each other?? And then I have a bird that they are all growing in one direction-- but not very full.. Would that be a split if it's not full..? Or would that be the "weak wing" he was telling you about?? You know how many times I've asked this question all over BYC?? A lot... I'm guessing most people just aren't sure either.

 

[aoxa]

What is a weak wing?  If you don't know-- be sure to really have that figured out along with the split wing and come back and tell us!!!  LOL!  Ask him if the split wing means the feathers are growing in two different directions-- or if they can grow in the same direction and still be considered a split?  That is the distinction I really need to know.  You saw the picture of the bird I have where it's obvious that the feathers are growing away from each other??  And then I have a bird that they are all growing in one direction-- but not very full..  Would that be a split if it's not full..? Or would that be the "weak wing" he was telling you about??   You know how many times I've asked this question all over BYC??  A lot... I'm guessing most people just aren't sure either.  

This is what he said so far:

I asked:

Have you heard of split wing in silkies?

Yup... but many aren't split, though are instead weak. Is a major area that most lines need improving-on.

JC

I then replied:

It’s nothing like angel wing in terms of cause is it?

I don’t have any with it, but was told to check them for it. At least my 4 breeders don’t have it. I haven’t checked the younger ones yet.

And he said:

I'll explain it all at the SHow... will be easier with live subjects..lol.

So I will ask him everything you mentioned. It's nice to know people that are so well respected in the poultry world He judges all over North America, so I'm sure he's seen his fair share of it.

He only breeds white. I wish he did other colours, because I would LOVE to have some really good blues!

 

[peepblessed]

What is a weak wing? If you don't know-- be sure to really have that figured out along with the split wing and come back and tell us!!! LOL! Ask him if the split wing means the feathers are growing in two different directions-- or if they can grow in the same direction and still be considered a split? That is the distinction I really need to know. You saw the picture of the bird I have where it's obvious that the feathers are growing away from each other?? And then I have a bird that they are all growing in one direction-- but not very full.. Would that be a split if it's not full..? Or would that be the "weak wing" he was telling you about?? You know how many times I've asked this question all over BYC?? A lot... I'm guessing most people just aren't sure either.

Also, what if the gap is just 1/2 in. Is that also split-wing?

 

[Hawkeye95]

Also, what if the gap is just 1/2 in. Is that also split-wing?

Maybe that would be the weak wing that was mentioned??

Really, this needs to get nailed down! This really bothers me! But if that is the case, should it be culled anyway in favor of a better wing-- but what if that bird has better type over the bird with a better wing...? This could go on and on... I find myself outside pulling out wings and obsessing over them. I have a couple other birds to take pictures of-- I found something else interesting the other day.

 

[littlecritters]

Maybe that would be the weak wing that was mentioned??     Really, this needs to get nailed down!  This really bothers me!  But if that is the case, should it be culled anyway in favor of a better wing-- but what if that bird has better type over the bird with a better wing...?  This could go on and on...  I find myself outside pulling out wings and obsessing over them.  I have a couple other birds to take pictures of-- I found something else interesting the other day.  

What about posting something on ASBC and creating a corresponding small photo gallery with pics of your birds? You can ask folks for specific feedback on your birds and maybe we can get some more detailed information?

 

[peepblessed]

What about posting something on ASBC and creating a corresponding small photo gallery with pics of your birds? You can ask folks for specific feedback on your birds and maybe we can get some more detailed information?

Just like on this website not all the feed back is accurate and you're left wondering. I personally have given out a lot of bad information without realizing it. Talking to a judge will be so wonderful!

 

[aoxa]

Just like on this website not all the feed back is accurate and you're left wondering. I personally have given out a lot of bad information without realizing it. Talking to a judge will be so wonderful!

I will post tomorrow about what he says. Cooping in my birds at 10 am and helping out until supper time. I hope he has entered some of his own silkies so I can gawk

 

[littlecritters]

Just like on this website not all the feed back is accurate and you're left wondering. I personally have given out a lot of bad information without realizing it. Talking to a judge will be so wonderful!

Good point!