Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Me & Jack]

LOL ....like the little train that could.....never give up

Well, someone else told me I was NOT wrong. I don't want to cause confusion...genuinely want people to know what the right answer is, and especially now I do, too. If there is continued confusion out there, even among well-known breeders, then there really needs to be some clarification.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I appreciate your input ...so please don't disappear too far or for too long.

X2-- Janine, I always appreciate your input, so hey, don't feel too badly about it. Peep and I have gone round and round on the split wing definition for months now, it seems. Neither of us have ever had anyone even try to lay it out for us. I'm just glad you're around. And okay.... so now it DOES look like my bird has split wing!

She does... she doesn't! She DOES! hehehehe!! All her feathers are there, but the secondaries are growing in a different direction and away from the primaries.

I am currently waiting for clarification from the American Poultry Association about whether or not their definition in the SOP refers only to wings missing a feather/follicle between the primaries and secondaries or whether it also refers to any wing with a distinct gap, regardless of missing feathers. Stay tuned...might be rescinding my sheepish apology. Will update as soon as I hear back from the APA. I also asked for clarification about the term "weak wing" since this definition does not appear in the SOP.

Thank you Janine! I would love to know what the deal is. I had sort of given up on ever knowing any fine point on wings. I had already decided not to use that bird, but my son is in love with her, so we'll probably keep her as a broody. I do AI on my birds anyway, so I will just never breed her. I think I may have a couple other birds that might show a similar wing pattern-- with the secondaries growing in a different direction. Those I will be selling off as pets/layers.

 

[Me & Jack]

X2-- Janine, I always appreciate your input, so hey, don't feel too badly about it. Peep and I have gone round and round on the split wing definition for months now, it seems. Neither of us have ever had anyone even try to lay it out for us. I'm just glad you're around. And okay.... so now it DOES look like my bird has split wing!

She does... she doesn't! She DOES! hehehehe!! All her feathers are there, but the secondaries are growing in a different direction and away from the primaries.


Thank you Janine! I would love to know what the deal is. I had sort of given up on ever knowing any fine point on wings. I had already decided not to use that bird, but my son is in love with her, so we'll probably keep her as a broody. I do AI on my birds anyway, so I will just never breed her. I think I may have a couple other birds that might show a similar wing pattern-- with the secondaries growing in a different direction. Those I will be selling off as pets/layers.

Thanks for your graciousness and patience, all! Will let you know as soon as I learn something definitive.

Oh, and here's also something in the SOP, Loralee, that refers to "twisted feathers" as being a feather in which the shaft and web are twisted. It's a DQ if found in the primaries or secondaries, so it's possible that could be what you're seeing in those secondaries. Usually it's just a feather or two, but I guess it could mean all or most of the secondaries. Regardless, I agree that keeping her out of your breeding program will help you out more in the long run.

 

[peepblessed]

Well, someone else told me I was NOT wrong. I don't want to cause confusion...genuinely want people to know what the right answer is, and especially now I do, too. If there is continued confusion out there, even among well-known breeders, then there really needs to be some clarification.

I am so thankful to have someone willing to go to the trouble to really clarafiy this wing issue. I sure hope you get some firm answers that everyone can agree on. I'm wondering at this point if even the judges are in any kind of agreement.

 

[chisNchickens]

No worries!!!

I'm sure we've all been there.

 

[peepblessed]

Catdance is really doing amazing things with her splashes......lovely bird....Thank You for sharing

Yes, she is! I also have some young blues of hers that I think will be this nice! Here a couple of pictures I took of this same pullet this AM. 3 wks. have passed and she has continued to fluff. It was cool too so her wings were up! Yay!! Sorry the bright sun washed her out... I named her Silk because there's not a hard feather on her.

 

[littlecritters]

I am currently waiting for clarification from the American Poultry Association about whether or not their definition in the SOP refers only to wings missing a feather/follicle between the primaries and secondaries or whether it also refers to any wing with a distinct gap, regardless of missing feathers. Stay tuned...might be rescinding my sheepish apology. Will update as soon as I hear back from the APA. I also asked for clarification about the term "weak wing" since this definition does not appear in the SOP.

 

I think it's a great idea to go the source for clarification. Please let us know what you find out.

 

[Brookiesbrooder]

Yes, she is! I also have some young blues of hers that I think will be this nice! Here a couple of pictures I took of this same pullet this AM. 3 wks. have passed and she has continued to fluff. It was cool too so her wings were up! Yay!! Sorry the bright sun washed her out... I named her Silk because there's not a hard feather on her.

even more stunning................i have 12 of her chicks just hatched hope they turn out as beautiful as she is.....thank you for sharing

 

[littlecritters]

I posted a question about genetic differences and breeding programs for pure black silkies on this thread-->
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445628/black-silkies/620#post_9497070
The thread hasn't been very active lately and if any of you breed blacks I would really appreciate your input.

 

[dwegg]

oh just found this thread...can anyone critique this little splash 5 and a half month old