Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[littlecritters]

Hawkeye:
I think a shirt with your farm name is fun, tasteful and a great way to promote your silkies. I was going to recommend Jessy to you, who does beautiful designs. I really like Jessy's new polish design, it's so striking.

In regards to pens, I have been scouring various sites and have looked at all the coop photos on ASBC. You have a huge amount of space to work with, which gives you lots of options. You could consider creating some "double decker" spaces that can be easily adjusted for brooders, breeding, grow out etc. I have an 8x16 walkin coop and may be adding some second levels for brooding babies. Check out the way George Mihalik has setup his barn and pens ---> http://www.silkiesbygeorge.com/thecoop.html and --->http://photos.silkiesbygeorge.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=110613

Has anyone ever frozen their rooster sperm for AI? This is done routinely with show horses, but wonder if it has been tried with chickens?

 

[thedragonlady]

thank you to everyone....the crest was my concern also on a $75 bird....she is not peeping anymore so she is probably over 5 months old

I would be more concerned about the lack of feathering on her middle toe. I've found over the years that the "Bonnet Crest" is sometimes a manmade thing. I see yellow stains on her cres, right down the middlet. She might have been wearing it off on the waterers or coop bars. Put her crest up in tape, and see what happens.

 

[Me & Jack]

Has anyone ever frozen their rooster sperm for AI? This is done routinely with show horses, but wonder if it has been tried with chickens?

Yes, I keep my extra sperm in ice cube trays, that way when I want just a bit I can take out one cube and thaw it out. I don't waste it all that way.

 

[thedragonlady]

Yes, I keep my extra sperm in ice cube trays, that way when I want just a bit I can take out one cube and thaw it out. I don't waste it all that way.

Having done Dairy goat and cattle AI for yeas, and AId most of my show silkies, I have a few questions. What are you freezing it with as an extender and food for the semen which continues to eat, all beit slowly? Are you flash freezing it in liquid nitrogen first. I would not think that a regular freezer would keep sperm viable.

 

[Me & Jack]

Having done Dairy goat and cattle AI for yeas, and AId most of my show silkies, I have a few questions. What are you freezing it with as an extender and food for the semen which continues to eat, all beit slowly? Are you flash freezing it in liquid nitrogen first. I would not think that a regular freezer would keep sperm viable.

Sorry, I was just joking. I put my extra herbs in ice cube trays so when I need some for a soup recipe or something I just get a single ice cube and plop it in the pot. Thought it was a funny visual for chicken sperm. My husband didn't like the joke, either. He is worried I'd seriously do that and then he'd mistakenly add one of those ice cubes to his soda. LOL

 

[Hawkeye95]

Sorry, I was just joking. I put my extra herbs in ice cube trays so when I need some for a soup recipe or something I just get a single ice cube and plop it in the pot. Thought it was a funny visual for chicken sperm. My husband didn't like the joke, either. He is worried I'd seriously do that and then he'd mistakenly add one of those ice cubes to his soda. LOL

OMGosh!!! I seriously am glad you posted this above! LOL I was thinking.... what?! Is she nuts?!?! LOL!! Well, I got a good laugh over it, but I was trying to envision how you wouldn't waste any with ice cube trays.

I totally fell for it until I read this. I wasn't even thinking of the logistics of it at all... just was stunned!

I'm still giggling, though.

 

[littlecritters]

OMGosh!!!  I seriously am glad you posted this above!  LOL  I was thinking.... what?!  Is she nuts?!?!  LOL!!  Well, I got a good laugh over it, but I was trying to envision how you wouldn't waste any with ice cube trays.   I totally fell for it until I read this.  I wasn't even thinking of the logistics of it at all... just was stunned!     I'm still giggling, though.    

You guys are so funny! About ten years ago, my daughter and I visited Iron Spring Farm for a tour and a fantastic visit with their dressage horses. We were pretty amazed at the facilities which included a lab for testing, measuring, freezing and shipping sperm. It was fascinating. It would be so great if rooster owners could ship sperm to other chicken breeders, and in return, receive a stud fee for the sperm. Hey, if we can ship eggs...we should be able ship sperm.

 

[ChicksNherps]

Posted this on a different silkie thread as well, but want to make sure everyone can give their opinions

. My friend is considering selling her cockerel because he has started crowing. Not loudly, but enough that she thinks he will disturb the neighbors.I would snatch him in a heartbeat because he is GORGEOUS but I don't have a house I can keep a roo at yet. So my question is, what would you all pay for him if she WAS to sell him? He is from local show stock, he is jet black with the emerald hues around his hackles, but he is from paint eggs so he is most likely het. for paint. He is super sweet and cuddly and is 5/6 months old.

 

[Hawkeye95]

You guys are so funny! About ten years ago, my daughter and I visited Iron Spring Farm for a tour and a fantastic visit with their dressage horses. We were pretty amazed at the facilities which included a lab for testing, measuring, freezing and shipping sperm. It was fascinating. It would be so great if rooster owners could ship sperm to other chicken breeders, and in return, receive a stud fee for the sperm. Hey, if we can ship eggs...we should be able ship sperm.

funny!

Posted this on a different silkie thread as well, but want to make sure everyone can give their opinions

. My friend is considering selling her cockerel because he has started crowing. Not loudly, but enough that she thinks he will disturb the neighbors.I would snatch him in a heartbeat because he is GORGEOUS but I don't have a house I can keep a roo at yet. So my question is, what would you all pay for him if she WAS to sell him? He is from local show stock, he is jet black with the emerald hues around his hackles, but he is from paint eggs so he is most likely het. for paint. He is super sweet and cuddly and is 5/6 months old.

I don't know. His back looks to be on the long side. I have 4.5 month olds that have shorter backs. They do start to really fill in around 6 months and keep going until they hit a year. He's NOT bad, that's for sure. I just don't know. I would want to see him in person and see how he held himself. Roosters are just so darned important. I do love his comb and crest. Maybe someone else will pipe up. I don't feel like I could give you a good evaluation. He might look a lot better in the back in person and if so, then he'd be worth a lot more. Maybe around $50 if he has good feathering on his toes, a shorter back and he really is black. Then he could go a bit higher if everything lined up. I would love to see him in person, I am looking for a black rooster. ---posted that then remembered he is out of a Paint breeding. I wouldn't want that. That may make a big difference too on who would be interested.

 

[Adoravachick]

I think he's beautiful! I woud love him myself, but coming out of a paint pen certainly counts me out as well. Again, though, he's LOVELY!