Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[ChicksNherps]

Yeah, I bought it at work today. It didn't turn her feathers to mush haha. She actually looks good.

Here's before:



After:



Says the more you use it the better it works, so maybe it will get rid of the yellowing

I will have to see, and let everyone know if it works!

 

[thedragonlady]

Yeah, I bought it at work today. It didn't turn her feathers to mush haha. She actually looks good.

Here's before:



After:



Says the more you use it the better it works, so maybe it will get rid of the yellowing

I will have to see, and let everyone know if it works!

Dawn dishwashing liquid, with a bluing rinse, will do a better job for 1/10 the price.

 

[ChicksNherps]

I know. I have a thing for shampoos. I have everything you could think of

Some people collect nicnacs, or shoes, I collect pet shampoo!

I have no life.

PLus! If it gets rid of the yellowing it's worth it! Nothing else does, and I like to experiment on what works the best, and what shampoo pairings make the best results.

They are also living inside, and I am mixing flaxseed, millet, and scratch with their grain to try to lessen their corn intake. They also have a forage cake that doesn't have a lot of corn either.

 

[thedragonlady]

I know. I have a thing for shampoos. I have everything you could think of

Some people collect nicnacs, or shoes, I collect pet shampoo!

I have no life.

PLus! If it gets rid of the yellowing it's worth it! Nothing else does, and I like to experiment on what works the best, and what shampoo pairings make the best results.

They are also living inside, and I am mixing flaxseed, millet, and scratch with their grain to try to lessen their corn intake. They also have a forage cake that doesn't have a lot of corn either.

Why are they yellow? Dirty coops. That's where you start. Clean your coops every day. I kept my show birds on kitty litter, which was screened every day. No stains. Dawn will remove the oil from the stains, and the bluing will remove the yellow. Too simple? Try it, but clean up your daily routine first.

 

[jsp28504]

Right now I have pens and cages. Large cages-- mine can hold several birds in them. But I use those for bachelor pads right now. Girls are outside in pens. That is just for the silkies-- I have my layers completely separate (big birds). Right now, my set up works, but I'm not loving it. Next Spring we are building a large barn, so I'll be dividing up the front half of my horse barn and will use the front 30 X 25ft for pens. Look at George's set up here-- this is similar to what I'm going to do. http://photos.silkiesbygeorge.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=110613 But right now, I'll have to over winter everyone in empty horse stalls in the back part of my barn which I also have set up for the silkies! (which is "fun" when the horses are curious and try to come in with me when I go to feed and water.) LOL I'm not really well organized on my set up right now. I hope next year will get that nailed down.

I track my breedings with a sheet I made up on Corel Draw. I keep track of who is who at first with multi colored zip ties. Once I've used up all the colors, then I start double banding them with the ties and doing combinations of zipties. I track that on my sheet and when they are ready for banding (or an ABA band) then I just switch it out to the number they are then in. Right now, I've been using the plastic numbered bandettes. Next year, I'm going to put all of my new kids in the ABA bands. Anyway, the sheets track if they were hatched with a vault, toes, etc.. and then later there are spots for wings, etc.. And then another spot for shows they are entered in, how well they did, etc. I keep them in plastic sheet covers and stick them in a binder. (that way they don't tear out)

I am planing on tracking the breeding on my computer with Excel, in the coming year, I have about 5 years to plan my dream coop and my husband is already dreading the build...

How many colors are you working with right now? I only have 2... well three b/c of blue and black... But I count them as one since I will put them in the same pen. How big are you going to have your pens and for how many birds? I was hoping to go with a 6x6 or 5x6 and have approx 5 pens, 3 breeders, 1 broody and 1 grow-out and possibly a table/ counter that will hold a brooder for incubated eggs, Possibly some outside "bachelor" and "bachelorette" pads for the ones I don't want to breed or use them as grow-outs... Luckily the land is not developed yet so my options are very open right now. Its beginning to look like my coop will cost more than my house! lol

I find it a compliment to be called a crazy chicken lady

... Crazy cat lady is way to over used.

 

[ChicksNherps]

Why are they yellow? Dirty coops. That's where you start. Clean your coops every day. I kept my show birds on kitty litter, which was screened every day. No stains. Dawn will remove the oil from the stains, and the bluing will remove the yellow. Too simple? Try it, but clean up your daily routine first.

They are in a dog crate on kitty litter. Have been for a while now. I clean it daily and water too.

I do give them mannapro poultry conditioner pellets. Could that do it?

 

[Adoravachick]

Why are they yellow? Dirty coops. That's where you start. Clean your coops every day. I kept my show birds on kitty litter, which was screened every day. No stains. Dawn will remove the oil from the stains, and the bluing will remove the yellow. Too simple? Try it, but clean up your daily routine first.

I have shavings in my coop and run. I can't stand it! I scoop and rake everyday, sometimes 2x, still not what I would like. It drives me bonkers Has anyone ever used corn cob as bedding? Our TSC has it and I have been thinking about it

****Also, Lavender chicks are hatching tonight. Yay!

 

[Me & Jack]

I have shavings in my coop and run. I can't stand it! I scoop and rake everyday, sometimes 2x, still not what I would like. It drives me bonkers Has anyone ever used corn cob as bedding? Our TSC has it and I have been thinking about it

****Also, Lavender chicks are hatching tonight. Yay!

I know of breeders who use rice hulls. They supposedly stay drier and reduce mold and mildew. Plus, your chickens aren't likely to eat them.

**good luck with the hatch!

 

[Adoravachick]

I know of breeders who use rice hulls. They supposedly stay drier and reduce mold and mildew. Plus, your chickens aren't likely to eat them.

**good luck with the hatch!

Will they eat the corn cob?

 

[Me & Jack]

Will they eat the corn cob?

I don't know, but I've heard some people say they will. Never used it personally, though.