Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[ScaredOfShadows]

I have question for Silkie breeders. I saw Silkies with single comb instead of cushion. Is it normal or abnormal? Can single combed bird be shown? I have read in some poultry magazine that Silkies can have different types of comb. Is it true?

Silkies should have Walnut combs. Single combs are a disqualification, any comb other than a walnut is a disqualification, they can not be shown, and usually preferred that you don't breed single combed birds.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I have question for Silkie breeders. I saw Silkies with single comb instead of cushion. Is it normal or abnormal? Can single combed bird be shown? I have read in some poultry magazine that Silkies can have different types of comb. Is it true?

Okay, so to answer your question can silkies have different types of combs-- well yes, they can, but it would be considered bad genetics or bad breeding.

Single combs are not accepted on silkies at all, you can not show and you certainly should not breed a single comb. The ONLY thing I've read about different comb types is by Sigrid (silkie genetic expert) and he says that Non-bearded silkies should have a rosecomb (or pea comb) which allows for small wattles instead of a dewlap under the beak. However, even this is not accepted here in the US. Our standard calls out a Walnut comb on both bearded and non. The rosecomb in European silkies: it is pointed out that a Non-bearded can not have wattles without the rosecomb, and since the European birds require wattles, they must have rosecombs. But bearded silkies are a cross of those genetics and their wattles will be apparent with a walnut comb.

The US standard says:
§ Comb: Male - Walnut - set firmly and evenly on head, almost circular in shape, preferably broader than longer, with a number of small prominences over it, a slight indentation or furrow, transversely across the middle, rising at a point just forward of the nostrils and extending backwards to a point parallel with the front of the eyes.
Female - Walnut, very small, well formed. Rest of the description same as the male.

§ Wattles: Male - Non-Bearded: medium size, concave, nearly round, fine in texture, free from wrinkles or folds. Bearded - very small, concealed by beard., natural absence preferred. Female - Non-Bearded: small, concave, forming a half circle, fine texture, free from wrinkles or folds. Bearded: small to nonexistent, concealed by beard.

Silkies should have Walnut combs. Single combs are a disqualification, any comb other than a walnut is a disqualification, they can not be shown, and usually preferred that you don't breed single combed birds.

X2

 

[Hawkeye95]

I have a question! Genetics or injury?? I have a chick that JUST developed this big bump on it's back and is now walking funny. This is a bird that I was sort of liking, so I've kept an eye on it and this was a sudden development. But then again... I thought that twisted beak a while back was a sudden development and I bet that it was just subtle until it wasn't.. So this bird, it acts like it is throwing it's leg out to the side now and walking with sort of a limp.. very odd!! I'll try to get a picture of it! Ideas on this? Does this sound like a severe curvature of the spine, wry tail or something of the like? Or maybe an injury? I have NO idea of course, but wondering if one of my kids were playing with these chicks and dropped it, fell on it, or whatever. I've asked them, but they are not forthcoming with any info. I wonder if I can post a video of it so you can see it's gait now. This is not one of my birds (my own breeding)-- but one of my shipped eggs I hatched a while back. So I can't say what the parents might have in their background.

ETA-- oh, thought of a couple of other clues to add. It does seem upset when I pick it up, wondering if it's in pain. Secondly, I have noticed that poop is now caking on it's rear... possibly it's not feeling well??

 

[peepblessed]

I have a question! Genetics or injury?? I have a chick that JUST developed this big bump on it's back and is now walking funny. This is a bird that I was sort of liking, so I've kept an eye on it and this was a sudden development. But then again... I thought that twisted beak a while back was a sudden development and I bet that it was just subtle until it wasn't.. So this bird, it acts like it is throwing it's leg out to the side now and walking with sort of a limp.. very odd!! I'll try to get a picture of it! Ideas on this? Does this sound like a severe curvature of the spine, wry tail or something of the like? Or maybe an injury? I have NO idea of course, but wondering if one of my kids were playing with these chicks and dropped it, fell on it, or whatever. I've asked them, but they are not forthcoming with any info. I wonder if I can post a video of it so you can see it's gait now. This is not one of my birds (my own breeding)-- but one of my shipped eggs I hatched a while back. So I can't say what the parents might have in their background.

ETA-- oh, thought of a couple of other clues to add. It does seem upset when I pick it up, wondering if it's in pain. Secondly, I have noticed that poop is now caking on it's rear... possibly it's not feeling well??

So sorry! Sounds bad. I have only had limping chickens when my LF get stepped on by a horse. It does sound like an injury but I'm only guessing.

 

[Hawkeye95]

OKay-- I took a video of it walking so you can see what is going on. It walks at the very beginning and look closely to see how she sort of throws that leg out to the side while walking. Then later on, she walks again and it seems more apparent.

Anyway, thoughts on this bird??

Thanks Peep, not sure what to think, but don't know if I can rule out genetics... or if this bird was dropped or what happened.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

OKay-- I took a video of it walking so you can see what is going on. It walks at the very beginning and look closely to see how she sort of throws that leg out to the side while walking. Then later on, she walks again and it seems more apparent.

Anyway, thoughts on this bird??

Thanks Peep, not sure what to think, but don't know if I can rule out genetics... or if this bird was dropped or what happened.

If this come on pretty quick its either an injury or a disease. some diseases cause vertebrae deformities, stilted gait, swollen joints, lameness, unthriftiness, diarrhea, etc...I would seperate this bird from the others just to be safe and keep an eye on it. (Also I say its a boy from the video - the crest is definitely boyish)

 

[Hawkeye95]

If this come on pretty quick its either an injury or a disease. some diseases cause vertebrae deformities, stilted gait, lameness, unthriftiness, diarrhea, etc...I would seperate this bird from the others just to be safe and keep an eye on it. (Also I say its a boy from the video - the crest is definitely boyish)

oh yikes--- what diseases would cause that? I need to look for symptoms, now!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Separate the bird and keep an eye on it, look it over REALLY well, any wounds, other injuries/questionable area, any scabs or sores? take a stethescope if you have one and listen to the bird's breathing if you can get it calmed down when handling it. With it separated you can also examine its poop and see if theres any warning signs there, watery, super thick, black or green/yellow, or bloody - all things i'd be worried about.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Mycoplasma synoviae

Synonyms: MS, infectious synovitis, synovitis, silent air sac
Species affected: chickens and turkeys.
Clinical signs: Birds infected with the synovitis form show lameness, followed by lethargy, reluctance to move, swollen joints, stilted gait, loss of weight, and formation of breast blisters. Birds infected with the respiratory form exhibit respiratory distress. Greenish diarrhea is common in dying birds (see Table 1). Clinically, the disease in indistinguishable from MG.


Staphylococcus

Synonyms: staph infection, staph septicemia, staph arthritis, bumblefoot .
Species affected: All fowl, especially turkeys, chickens, game birds, and waterfowl, are susceptible.
Clinical signs: Staphylococcal infections appear in three forms -- septicemia (acute), arthritic (chronic), and bumblefoot. The septicemia form appears similar to fowl cholera in that the birds are listless, without appetite, feverish, and show pain during movement. Black rot may show up in eggs (the organism is passed in the egg). Infected birds pass fetid watery diarrhea. Many will have swollen joints (arthritis) and production drops (see Table 3).
The arthritic form follows the acute form. Birds show symptoms of lameness and breast blisters, as well as painful movement (see Table 3). Birds are reluctant to walk, preferring to sit rather than stand.


Marek's Disease

Synonyms: acute leukosis, neural leukosis, range paralysis, gray eye (when eye affected)
Species affected: Chickens between 12 to 25 weeks of age are most commonly clinically affected. Occasionally pheasants, quail, game fowl and turkeys can be infected.
Clinical signs: Marek's disease is a type of avian cancer. Tumors in nerves cause lameness and paralysis. Tumors can occur in the eyes and cause irregularly shaped pupils and blindness. Tumors of the liver, kidney, spleen, gonads, pancreas, proventriculus, lungs, muscles, and skin can cause incoordination, unthriftiness, paleness, weak labored breathing, and enlarged feather follicles. In terminal stages, the birds are emaciated with pale, scaly combs and greenish diarrhea (see Table 2).

 

[littlecritters]

OKay-- I took a video of it walking so you can see what is going on.  It walks at the very beginning and look closely to see how she sort of throws that leg out to the side while walking.  Then later on, she walks again and it seems more apparent.

Anyway, thoughts on this bird??

Thanks Peep, not sure what to think, but don't know if I can rule out genetics... or if this bird was dropped or what happened.

In the video, the bird's tail appears to curve to one side, which reminds me of ours. Do you remember the pics I posted of our silkie with scoliosis? S/he has now developed a huge bump that startled me the first time I felt it. The bump is actually her spine roached up and twisted. Try to gently palpate your birds spine to determine whether you are feeling bone, swollen soft tissue or possibly even a tumor/cyst.