Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[thedragonlady]

Also, when you guys first started out what did you do with the birds that didn't meet show quality. Let's just say I have a warm heart and so when I look to my coop I have 4 out of 5 silkies that just aren't up to par. There is an auction this weekend in a nearby town for "all types of animals" that I think I am going to take them too. But what if they end up as someone's dinner? How do you detach from that?

There are much worse fates for some chickens than being dead.

 

[nicalandia]

There are much worse fates for some chickens than being dead.

Battery egg cage life is one of them...

 

[peepblessed]

Honestly, maybe here's my farm girl roots showing up, but I hope they DO become dinner. I'm not so sure I believe anyone that truly wants a "pet" from my culls. This year my culls had all of those split wings. I'm pretty sure most of them went to someone's dinner plate. Which is perfect, because they should NEVER be bred. I would have killed them myself, but I just don't have it in me to kill my fluffies when I'm pretty sure I can't stomach black meat. I sold them for eating prices on CraigsList all summer long. I've had some interesting cultures show up to buy them.

I'm hoping they really aren't going to take them home and breed them, but seeing who showed up, I doubt it. I felt a bit irresponsible selling them and then having someone possibly breed them. So yeah, the best thing for them is to be eaten instead of bred. I have a couple of birds right now that I'm hanging onto because they have such bad wry backs (eggs I had shipped in) and I don't even feel right about listing them for sale... I'm super worried someone may NOT eat them! LOL I've been seriously thinking about culling them the old fashioned way here. I just don't think I could eat black meat. If they were white meat birds, I wouldn't have a problem eating them myself. I've done that enough over the years. So I've been hanging onto them and am debating back and forth on listing them. They are cute, even with wry, which is why I worry someone may go ahead and try to breed them. Sigh. Think of it this way, they are CHICKENS. It's much better to be humanely dressed out and put on a table in celebration of life than to perpetuate a bad genetic problem or even to be neglected or starved, or even be snatched by some roving dog that would just tear them apart ruthlessly.

I used to worry about people breeding the pet quality chickens I sell then I realized that people are buying hatchery silkies by the ton and my pets are such a better option. JMO

 

[Adoravachick]

Ready for the show tomorrow. Hopefully all goes well and we learn alot. Wish me luck.

I will post some pics tomorrow evening.

 

[Me & Jack]

Ready for the show tomorrow. Hopefully all goes well and we learn alot. Wish me luck.

I will post some pics tomorrow evening.

Oh, the very best of luck!! Don't forget to have fun, too!

 

[peepblessed]

Ready for the show tomorrow. Hopefully all goes well and we learn alot. Wish me luck.

I will post some pics tomorrow evening.

Hope it's a truly awesome day!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I used to worry about people breeding the pet quality chickens I sell then I realized that people are buying hatchery silkies by the ton and my pets are such a better option. JMO

Excellent point, Peep! Maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty... even though I do.

Ready for the show tomorrow. Hopefully all goes well and we learn alot. Wish me luck.

I will post some pics tomorrow evening.

Yay! Good luck and just have FUN!!! Can't wait to see pictures!

 

[Adoravachick]

I was told today that Isabel isn't blue, that she is black? I am a little confused as far as blues, she is a dark blue, but still a blue. I just don't know.
We came in 3 and 4th and boy did we just flat out get beat! Pretty stiff competition. It was a rainy and cold day, I did learn alot. I spoke with the judge afterwards and he did say all the the silkies, aside from the whites were on the larger side (not large as in heavy), their bodies were just wider and low to the ground. Apparently, he likes a smaller bodied bird. Maybe my peanut of a white will work out after all.

My blue, Isabel is on the left and Isadora is on the right.
Isadora, actually was beaten by a few crest feathers.

 

[Adoravachick]

Can we talk about blues?
Isabel, she is blue right? Is she too dark?

 

[peepblessed]

I was told today that Isabel isn't blue, that she is black? I am a little confused as far as blues, she is a dark blue, but still a blue. I just don't know.
We came in 3 and 4th and boy did we just flat out get beat! Pretty stiff competition. It was a rainy and cold day, I did learn alot. I spoke with the judge afterwards and he did say all the the silkies, aside from the whites were on the larger side (not large as in heavy), their bodies were just wider and low to the ground. Apparently, he likes a smaller bodied bird. Maybe my peanut of a white will work out after all.

My blue, Isabel is on the left and Isadora is on the right.
Isadora, actually was beaten by a few crest feathers.

They look just beautiful!! Some times you have to breed them and see what they produce to be sure of color.