Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Me & Jack]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER?

I think she looks very nice. A good, solid bird.

 

[Me & Jack]

Can we talk about lobed crests again? I have 2 white chicks with large crests, as the chicks have grown, I have noticed the crest shape has changed. I am convinced its from the waterers. If I change now, will their crests grow to their original state? Is anyone using something other than the standard waterer? Bottle waterers?

It's probably not from the waterers if the lobes appear the way I think you mean...as two "knobs" at the front and the larger crest in the back. It's like a vaulted skull--some birds seem to have them and some don't. If you're talking about something else, though, I guess it could be from birds dipping their crests in water.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Can we talk about lobed crests again? I have 2 white chicks with large crests, as the chicks have grown, I have noticed the crest shape has changed. I am convinced its from the waterers. If I change now, will their crests grow to their original state? Is anyone using something other than the standard waterer? Bottle waterers?

I really doubt the crest has changed shape because of the water fount. I've never had that happen. A crest just won't grow into it's full potential-- or show what it will look like until the bird is much older-- around 4-5 months you should have a very good idea of what it might look like. But even at that age, there will be a lot of pinfeathers and they can continue to change in shape and size. If you have lobes in your crest, there is something else going on-- usually because the bird has a vault. Although... the majority of my birds have a vault as well, and do not have lobes within the crest. What kind of water fount are you using? I'm using a typical 2 gallon metal fount for my birds right now. It doesn't seem to interfere with their crests. Can you take a picture of the crest you are talking about? Sometimes it's just going to be obvious that genetics are at play rather than a water fount. That would be the case when the lobe looks really pronounced and well defined. I don't have any birds with this problem, or I'd show you a picture. I remember having this discussion with someone else a while back and they were having problems with lobes within the crest. They had great pictures.

As a kid, my dad raised WCB Polish. This is a breed that has larger crests than silkies. They also have vaulted skulls. I showed them when I was a kid, but you will get some bad genetics where the crest just falls or separates. It's not anything to do with feeding/watering, etc... It's just a bad crest. A Polish with a crest that falls or separates-- well, you just don't breed them. So they have their own problems, too. But it reminds me a lot of silkies because you are working with similar crests and vaults. They either have a good crest, or they don't. You'd be amazed-- a bird with a good crest/good genetics-- it just won't matter if they get it wet, or what they do with it-- it will always bounce back. I have Polish right now that it's been raining and miserable out-- their crests are perfect. Then I have the birds that I would never in a million breed and they won't stay together and flop down. So I relate that a lot to silkies. And speaking of the rain and drizzle lately-- my silkies have gotten drenched a few times in the last couple of weeks. Their crests were flat against their heads when I brought them in. I didn't do anything with them, but put them up. The next morning-- they were all fluffed up like nothing had happened without me having to do anything for them.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER?

She looks very nice. Are you wanting to show or breed her? Is she a Black or a Blue? The majority of my blues I got this year are all this dark. Makes it very tough not to call them black when I know very well they are blue. LOL!

 

[Adoravachick]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HER?

She's very nice!

 

[Adoravachick]

I really doubt the crest has changed shape because of the water fount. I've never had that happen. A crest just won't grow into it's full potential-- or show what it will look like until the bird is much older-- around 4-5 months you should have a very good idea of what it might look like. But even at that age, there will be a lot of pinfeathers and they can continue to change in shape and size. If you have lobes in your crest, there is something else going on-- usually because the bird has a vault. Although... the majority of my birds have a vault as well, and do not have lobes within the crest. What kind of water fount are you using? I'm using a typical 2 gallon metal fount for my birds right now. It doesn't seem to interfere with their crests. Can you take a picture of the crest you are talking about? Sometimes it's just going to be obvious that genetics are at play rather than a water fount. That would be the case when the lobe looks really pronounced and well defined. I don't have any birds with this problem, or I'd show you a picture. I remember having this discussion with someone else a while back and they were having problems with lobes within the crest. They had great pictures.

I use a standard gallon plastic water and I see their crests, right in the center, get pushed in giving an indented look. I will get photos a bit later, it's pouring cats and dogs out there.

 

[chickendales]

Last one is a cockerel, not a pullet

last one is for shure a pullet she laying

 

[chickendales]

Whetehr or not a clerk is "nasty" depends on the viewpoint. A clerks job (at least part of it) is to protect the judging so that 1) the judge is not distracted, thus rendering a less than god judging and 2) running interference so that helpful intervention (for example, "it's time for lunch as soon as you reach a stopping point"). Now if a clerk is generally obnoxious to everyone, then that is another matter, but preventing people from pushing in and distracting the judge who is doing a paid job that demands a high level of competence and attention is not "nasty," although I can see how some people might use that term. I have noticed that chairs blocking an aisle are not nearly as effective as a chain that contains a placard that says "Do Not Enter During Judging" or something similar.

At our fairs, judging begins, and is mostly completed during periods when the barn is not open to the public, or when there is very little attendence. That doesn't fly with strinctly APA/ABA shows, but in general, those that exhibit there at least have an inkling of show etttiquette.

that is one nice thing about our fair our kids are encurged to be close here what judge has say

 

[thedragonlady]

Can we talk about lobed crests again? I have 2 white chicks with large crests, as the chicks have grown, I have noticed the crest shape has changed. I am convinced its from the waterers. If I change now, will their crests grow to their original state? Is anyone using something other than the standard waterer? Bottle waterers?

I never used anything but bottle waterers for all my birds once they were over a few weeks old. I used only the plastic ones, and they were changed every day. The used ones went into a mild bleach solution, and were then rinsed to be used the next day.The result was that I had NO staining of crests or beards, and no wearing off of the front of the crests.

 

[racuda]

All of my whites have a tri-lobed bonnet crest. This twelve week old pulled is a good example.



Every female in my white pen has the same kind of crest.


This type of crest gives the appearance of being large, as if it's so big that it spills over the sides. In fact, the feathers in the center of the crest are fairly short, only about an inch long.

Although it doesn't fit the SOP's specification of "Medium size, soft and full, globular, upright, well balanced", many people seem to like this kind of crest. The current ASBC yearbook has several pictures of Silkies with tri-lobed crests, including the cover photo of the the Nation Champion bearded white hen by George Mihalik.

Who knows? Maybe in the future the Standard will be changed to reflect this preference.

 

[chisNchickens]

All of my whites have a tri-lobed bonnet crest. This twelve week old pulled is a good example.



Every female in my white pen has the same kind of crest.


This type of crest gives the appearance of being large, as if it's so big that it spills over the sides. In fact, the feathers in the center of the crest are fairly short, only about an inch long.

Although it doesn't fit the SOP's specification of "Medium size, soft and full, globular, upright, well balanced", many people seem to like this kind of crest. The current ASBC yearbook has several pictures of Silkies with tri-lobed crests, including the cover photo of the the Nation Champion bearded white hen by George Mihalik.

Who knows? Maybe in the future the Standard will be changed to reflect this preference.

I personally prefer the bonnet look. So sue me;-)