But wait. I count 3 toes that are not well feathered. Two toes that are smaller and attached to the same limb, and then one that is larger. I'm assuming then, that there are two more twos hiding under the fluff of feathers. Making a total of 5 toes. The ABSC states the standard that the middle toe must be feathered.Someone might have a better example, but here is my partridge girl's feet.
Love the flower in her fluff. I say we start a trend and make little bows for the girlsFor anyone on thing thread that may not be on the other silkie thread, made up a little photo collage thingy of one of my girls "at the spa". Just want to share with everyone
Mud mask first, then chamomile and aloe shampoo soak, and add the finishing touches
How in the world did you find someone willingly give her up? She's very nice looking! Especially if that crest fills in!Peep-- here is the bird I just got yesterday! Poor thing had a long drive, but I got her bathed and fluffed today.
taking a bath.... (yeah, I had a bit of fun with her and her new 'soap mohawk')
And after her bath:
I'm pretty happy with her!!!! I got her tested yesterday and got her 90 day certification done, so I'm good to go if I decide to take her to the next two shows I have coming up, and I'm thinking I will take her.
here's one that's easier to see, I bought one for each of them, my splash has a yellow one (if she would actually let me get it in her crestLove the flower in her fluff. I say we start a trend and make little bows for the girls
She looks really nice! I am going to my first show with my silkies in a few short weeks too. Just take it all in and have some fun! You will learn so much toohere's one that's easier to see, I bought one for each of them, my splash has a yellow one (if she would actually let me get it in her crest). How is she looking? She still has some feathers coming in on her crest. Show in 12 dayswe're gonna get creamed but oh well. I'll prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised for anything better.
That's very rude!
The middle toe is the front 3 - so she does have ample feathering on those. The toes are not connected on this one, but I agree - the picture looks like it is. They are not properly spaced, but not connected either. I think it may be the angle of the shot. I was just showing you feathering, not really thinking about the angle of the shot for the toe spacingBut wait. I count 3 toes that are not well feathered. Two toes that are smaller and attached to the same limb, and then one that is larger. I'm assuming then, that there are two more twos hiding under the fluff of feathers. Making a total of 5 toes. The ABSC states the standard that the middle toe must be feathered. Hmmm.... I think I was looking at this all wrong. I was counting up the number of toes and then thinking the middle of that would be the toe that should be feathered. If that's the case, none of my birds made it. I went back and read the standard and realized that the middle toe of the front three must be feathered, and therefore this is correct. And that my birds are not that bad after all.....hopefully
How do you know that the crooked beak is genetic? Just curious. She is good type. Her crest is well shaped and her feet are excellent. Wings are tucked in nice too. I am sure you have gone over your head a million times about this so questioning it probably isn't the best for me to do...but...I always want to figure out these things tooThat's very rude!
The middle toe is the front 3 - so she does have ample feathering on those. The toes are not connected on this one, but I agree - the picture looks like it is. They are not properly spaced, but not connected either. I think it may be the angle of the shot. I was just showing you feathering, not really thinking about the angle of the shot for the toe spacing
This girl probably has my best feet. She is being re-homed to a pet family as her beak is crooked. My friend really wants a couple of broodies, so she is getting this girl. Mother is extreme broody.
I don't know that the crooked beak is genetic for sure, but I'd rather not take a chance. She is very young in this picture too. Around 15 weeks old.How do you know that the crooked beak is genetic? Just curious. She is good type. Her crest is well shaped and her feet are excellent. Wings are tucked in nice too. I am sure you have gone over your head a million times about this so questioning it probably isn't the best for me to do...but...I always want to figure out these things too
Aoxa--I have shown up at swaps and bird sales to have bird owners sniff the air at my birds. I've been told that they are not "real chickens". Hah. Please. I own both laying hens and show birds. They can both get the same diseases, same types of issues, and all lay eggs. The only difference in my opinion is that I am chasing a perfect standard of breed that doesn't come with my layers.
Plus, I think they are envious that a lot of people love silkies like a pet and so I have it just a tad easier when it comes to selling ones that I cannot keep
Whew! That is terrible! I can not even imagine a judge acting like such a child and being so ridiculous! I would definitely complain to who ever is hosting the show and maybe they won't hire them again. Sheesh. He could have injured a bird by slamming those doors, and that was totally uncalled for, I don't care how ridiculous he thinks silkies are, they are still birds that should be handled as gently as any other. Sounds like a personal problem for him. I have had the opposite experiences so far, and all of the judges have found the silkies to be enjoyable. Art Reiber (who will be judging at the ASBC Eastern Nationals) told me earlier this spring that he enjoys judging silkies because they are always so relaxed and easy to handle, unlike a lot of breeds that are flighty and fight him to get out the cages.
Wash him/her up and fluff the bird out and then see what you have! And it's pretty young too, so still has some time to fill in more. It still could be a girl... ?Thanks. That's why I said I was embarrassed to even post a pic right now....needs a little TLC. Poor thing is right, those nails are WILD.Maybe during naps I will get this poor thing cleaned up. I will let you ya'll know if I see any real signs being a boy. I have a white cockerel and white pullet that both look like this little spash, bodywise, so it really is a toss up. I did see some other splash cockerels in the same pen and this one looked so feminine compared to the others.
My daughter named him/her Mooshoo (cause the spots look like cow spots, she said).
Very cute, love the bow! Great pictures!For anyone on thing thread that may not be on the other silkie thread, made up a little photo collage thingy of one of my girls "at the spa". Just want to share with everyone
Mud mask first, then chamomile and aloe shampoo soak, and add the finishing touches
The middle toe is from the front 3. The outside toe that is closest to the two "extra" toes up higher on the leg don't need to be well feathered. But if it is-- that's definitely good, too.But wait. I count 3 toes that are not well feathered. Two toes that are smaller and attached to the same limb, and then one that is larger. I'm assuming then, that there are two more twos hiding under the fluff of feathers. Making a total of 5 toes. The ABSC states the standard that the middle toe must be feathered.
Hmmm....
I think I was looking at this all wrong. I was counting up the number of toes and then thinking the middle of that would be the toe that should be feathered. If that's the case, none of my birds made it. I went back and read the standard and realized that the middle toe of the front three must be feathered, and therefore this is correct. And that my birds are not that bad after all.....hopefully
Thank you everyone for the excellent pictures!
Sonoran- I have a bunch of barred rocks but just wasn't sure about the white rocks still laying creamy colored eggs. Thank you
I have a very good friend that is a few hours away from me and she has been working with silkies. She just decided to go in another direction and sold off all of her pets qualities and breeder birds. This one, she wanted it to go to a home that would show her/breed her and not just stick her in the backyard, so she gave it to me. She's a great friend! But she had the best interest of the bird in mind when she did it. I do think that crest will fill in more, if you saw it in person, there are some chunks missing where the rooster pulled it out. Its filled with pin feathers. I think her cushion also must be coming in more, too-- because when I washed her, she was like a pin cushion back there-- tons and tons of pin feathers! So I'm guessing her rear is going to fill in even more! But we shall see. I'm having an amazing cockerel shipped in next week to go with her!
Can you take a side shot of her? I can't see her wings or how her tail looks. She looks wide, which is great, and low to the ground. I think you'll do just fine with her if everything else is good, too.here's one that's easier to see, I bought one for each of them, my splash has a yellow one (if she would actually let me get it in her crest). How is she looking? She still has some feathers coming in on her crest. Show in 12 dayswe're gonna get creamed but oh well. I'll prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised for anything better.
It's about a 50/50 shot on if a twisted beak is genetic. A crooked beak (or cross beak) is absolutely genetic and will pass on. A twisted beak may or may not pass on. No reason to put that back into your genetic background and have it pop out later on. That would be awful. I just sent this bird to her new "pet home" this week: I took a picture of her when she was a chick and when she was about 5 months old. I would NEVER breed such a bird. The kind of beak on my bird supposedly happens in the egg... but who wants to chance that?How do you know that the crooked beak is genetic? Just curious. She is good type. Her crest is well shaped and her feet are excellent. Wings are tucked in nice too. I am sure you have gone over your head a million times about this so questioning it probably isn't the best for me to do...but...I always want to figure out these things too
Aoxa--I have shown up at swaps and bird sales to have bird owners sniff the air at my birds. I've been told that they are not "real chickens". Hah. Please. I own both laying hens and show birds. They can both get the same diseases, same types of issues, and all lay eggs. The only difference in my opinion is that I am chasing a perfect standard of breed that doesn't come with my layers.
Plus, I think they are envious that a lot of people love silkies like a pet and so I have it just a tad easier when it comes to selling ones that I cannot keep
