Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[chisNchickens]

Littlecritters- from what I've learned in the past two days researching this forum is that there are DQ's and then point reducers. Instant DQ's would be incorrect weight, wrong comb, wrong color of comb, incorrect number of toes and feathering not on feet, wrong color of eyes, and finally any color other than what the breed is supposed to be (no cross-colors unless shown AOV). Eyes must be black, or near black, wings tucked nicely at sides, and have a balanced crest that doesn't impair sight or form a "bonnet" so to speak. Really, there are too many faults to name. Better do what I did and spend the next few days reading this Silkie Manual of 91+ pages the chicken lovers have created for you!
As for peeps and KM, you guys crack me up. Yes--driving across the country with a beautiful silkie on your lap surely is acceptable, right??

Incorrect. No where does it say anything about a bonnet shape. The crest should be globular, points may be deducted if the crest is too lobed but technically, the bonnet shape IS globular. It is all in perception.

 

[chisNchickens]

Yes, you need to be NPIP certified OR have 90 day Certs done (every 90 days) to be able to show, ship or sell birds. So far, I've been going with the 90 day Cert because I've not been to any shows so far that allow NPIP-- they want the much more updated 90 day certificate. I'm having my birds re-tested again on Monday to get another 90 day for the next up coming shows this Fall. In the Spring, I have them set up to do an NPIP, but it won't do me much good for the shows. And yes, if you want to remain NPIP in the same year, you can not buy any other non-NPIP bird. You must have their number and depending on what your State says, a 90 day Cert on that specific bird with the band number listed on it to keep your license. In my State, they have to be re-done, as out of State certs won't be accepted.

Incorrect. You do not have to be NPIP to ship birds. I personally do not want the state to have anything to do with my birds. NPIP is not the be all - end all. Many of the long time great breeders are not NPIP. It seems to be mostly a BYC fad. And not a very effective one at that.

ETA: To clarify, the majority does not know what NPIP really is...but they sure want to be a part of it. It was started to eliminate pullorum disease, which is obsolete. It does NOT test for the transportable illnesses that ARE a threat now.
Lots of people ship, show and sell without NPIP. I want to keep my options open, and I do not intend on having hundreds of birds, so NPIP is not only intrusive, but pointless.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Incorrect. You do not have to be NPIP to ship birds. I personally do not want the state to have anything to do with my birds. NPIP is not the be all - end all. Many of the long time great breeders are not NPIP. It seems to be mostly a BYC fad. And not a very effective one at that.

Actually Hawkeye is right your SUPPOSED to be NPIP or the birds being shipped are supposed to be tested and certified clean of AI, pollurum, and typhoid and have attached paperwork to live bird shipments....however many people do NOT do this, and the PO doesn't check nor care so you can get away with it. However if they do come across someone who knows the laws they can hold the bird shipment and contact the US department of agriculture.

Also it is not a fad, it is easier for someone who is NPIP to go to shows, not all states do NPIP, some states have instate testers or you can get certified and test your own birds, some states the only way to be a typhoid/pullorum certified clean is to have the state do it, here in NC that is the case, unless you only go to instate shows and go to a show early and before hand and get birds tested onsite by the STATE testers, which are banded and recorded with the state.
Out of state shows like Virginia I would have to have my birds typhoid/pullorum tested within a month before the show and AI within 2 weeks I believe before entering into the state and going to the show, otherwise you can not show the bird. Its just the way it is.
If you don't show and aren't a breeder who ships regularly then there is no reason to get NPIP certified. if your in a state that has private testers or you can become a certified tester and test your own birds, then I would definitely do that!

 

[Hennyhandler]

Does NPIP pertain to shipping hatching eggs in any way?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Younger birds are more likely to lay double yolkers than are older birds.

 

[farmer boy]

i have pics of my silkies on my profile pics i can't find them on my comp so if you want you can go look at them .. i am new to the fancy bird stuff and i am only 15 so please to me what im doing wrong or what ever lol anything helps

 

[blueeyeddemon]

Umm....I have a question : I have a Partridge Silkie with four toes. What's his genetics? I don't know who his parents are.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: The definition of globular is globe-shaped, the definition of globe is spherical.

That said, many of the listed "instant DQs" are not. Incorrect weight is a DQ only if SIGNIFICANTLY (20%) different than the standard. Incorrect eye colour is not a DQ, it is a defect. Non-standard colouring is not a DQ; how a judge will handle a bird that is wheaten and is listed as buff, or salmon and listed as partridge or similar varies from judge to judge and show to show. I have seen judges correct the coop tag and judge the bird as what it IS, and I have also seen them judge the bird as what the tag is marked as. With the former, birds tend to fare far better than with the later, which will often lead to a DQ. I rarely see birds' variety actually listed as "AOV" except with American Serama; most people simply list that variety that they believe the bird to be.

Now there are certain colour issues of recognized varieties that ARE a DQ (red, gold or silver leakage in a self-coloured bird (blue, black, self-blue, solid white feathers in a buff bird, red leakage on a grey, etc.)

If you really want to know what silkies should look like, purchase the standard.

 

[blueeyeddemon]

Someone please answer my question

 

[farmer boy]

Someone please answer my question

we wouldn't really know their supposed to have 5 toes so idk ... what kind of 4 toed roos do you have or could that be part of the cross breed