Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Hawkeye95]

My Silkies have it pretty good. Living indoors they may not get much sunshine, 'cept what comes through the windows, but they get greens everyday, either store-bought or from my lawn and garden, they never have to worry about predators, especially since they can't see the airborne variety, and they are protected from rain, snow, and bitter winds. As for "proper" coop materials, it really boils down to what works best for each person, not what is "right" or "best". I worry a lot less about my indoor birds than I do about my outdoor birds. Guess it's a similar argument for why some people are against cats being let outside. Just like neighborhood cats killing birds, I don't ever worry about my chickens decimating the local bug populations. LOL

So you mean inside your house? Or inside a barn? If they are inside your house, how do you have room for all of them? Or do you just not have very many? I'm wanting to build pens inside my horse barn next Spring. I'm running out of space and I need more pens! What is your set up like for them?

 

[sager:)silkies]

So you mean inside your house? Or inside a barn? If they are inside your house, how do you have room for all of them? Or do you just not have very many? I'm wanting to build pens inside my horse barn next Spring. I'm running out of space and I need more pens! What is your set up like for them?

hawkeye i think she means in a coop our barn i hope u mean that janine LoL mine live the same way they dont go outside but do get sun threw thw window and get lots of treats

 

[Abstrax]

Best chick from my hatch this year so far. She is 5 months old.

I call her Princess Fluffy LOL. Just to spite my other half...

 

[Me & Jack]

So you mean inside your house? Or inside a barn? If they are inside your house, how do you have room for all of them? Or do you just not have very many? I'm wanting to build pens inside my horse barn next Spring. I'm running out of space and I need more pens! What is your set up like for them?

LOL -no not in my house, although I would if my husband would agree to it! No, we have a large 2-bay workshop that was built for farm equipment but now houses my birds in 8' x 8' pens. I use 2 x 4s that are 8' long to frame the base, I vertically place corners with 2' pieces of 2 x 4, and then I staple black plastic fencing around that about 2-feet high to keep in the Silkies. My Tolbunt have a slightly sturdier pen but they never leave it except to roost on the top. It's very easy to build on extensions (takes about 15-20 minutes). I can also easily divide a pen in half by adding one more 2 x 4 down the middle and stapling the plastic to that. Then, it's easy to take apart if I want a larger pen. Will try to get some pics for you. Need to clean the pens first, though! LOL

 

[CGinJCMO]

Quote:
Well my silkie is only a few months old so defenately won't be showing this fall. The silkie is a pet for son#1, and hopeful broody for the d'uccles. Son#1 has spoken of showing, but we will only do whatever we can that's local - no illusions of gradure here.

I've been reading and learning what I can.

CG
(spell check isn't working correctly so please excuse my mis-spellings)

edited to add photo

Photo doesn't have flash wash-out so hopefully it is more accurate of color

 

[ChicksNherps]

Well my silkie is only a few months old so defenately won't be showing this fall.  The silkie is a pet for son#1, and hopeful broody for the d'uccles.  Son#1 has spoken of showing, but we will only do whatever we can that's local - no illusions of gradure here.    I've been reading and learning what I can.

CG
(spell check isn't working correctly so please excuse my mis-spellings)

edited to add photo

Photo doesn't have flash wash-out so hopefully it is more accurate of color

She looks just like my nori =D they call it " creamsicle " I want to do a breeding project for it. Mine was also hatched from partridge eggs.There are pictures on page 74 of her with my splash.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Quote:
I like that color name.

In fact, I will suggest it as a name for her to son#1 because she doesn't have one yet. Although, his chicks have had a "rock/mineral" theme (Flint-roo, Sapphire and Little Miss Pyrite-pullets).

CG

 

[Adoravachick]

Best chick from my hatch this year so far. She is 5 months old.

I call her Princess Fluffy LOL. Just to spite my other half...

So pretty.

 

[littlecritters]

Any tips to prevent 4 1/2 month old roos from having crowing contests? We have 3 silkie boys and the youngest just started this weekend. He has been practicing alot, which triggers the others. They are driving me crazy. Should I separate them so they can't see each other? Or should I keep them together and remove the 2 girls? Does anything work at this young age, or do they just have to get a bit older to quiet down?

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Any tips to prevent 4 1/2 month old roos from having crowing contests? We have 3 silkie boys and the youngest just started this weekend. He has been practicing alot, which triggers the others. They are driving me crazy. Should I separate them so they can't see each other? Or should I keep them together and remove the 2 girls? Does anything work at this young age, or do they just have to get a bit older to quiet down?

all birds are different, but yes at that age if they aren't happy with the totem pole they will have crowing contests which is better than fights/scuffles
I'd remove the girls from the same pen with all those boys, once the boys decide they are ready to mate they will fight over the girls and all 3 will try having 'turns' which is rough and dangerous to the health of young pullets