Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[Adoravachick]

I agree, all of those eggs should be fertile. They should all hatch, unless something goes wrong. You can see ahead of time if an egg might not be as viable-- if the shell has clear spots in it (really porous) or if it's been sitting out too long, etc. So there are other variables. If you are not getting good fertility, could be too many hens, or he's just not doing a good job. I had that problem and now when I'm very serious about getting a good hatch and not a so/so one, I just AI them. Then I know everything is fertile. I also like the fact they don't have to be taken out of condition to breed to do that.

Honestly, he doesn't act all that interested, which concerns me.

 

[Adoravachick]

Have you priced really good alfalfa lately? In the 70s THRU the 80s I was feeding New Mexico irrigated alfalfa which cost about $200 a ton then. Heaven knows what it is today, and the freight would be horrendous. My herd of Nubians had one of the highest herd averages inthe S.E.They got unlimited alfalfa, unlimited good brouse, and 20% protein feed twice a day. Not cheap, but each doe averaged over a gallon a day on DHIR test.THAT'S ABOUT 2800 LBS OF MILK IN A 350 DAY PERIOD from each doe.

That is amazing...mmm...goat milk. My children LOVE it!

 

[aoxa]

Honestly, he doesn't act all that interested, which concerns me. 

I'm having the same problem with my bantam Ameraucanas. I think come breeding season, he will be much more keen. Afterall, my silkies took quite a long time to start breeding. I wouldn't expect fertility at 6 months old in a silkie. They seem challenged when it comes to the ladies. To learn how to get them to squat for you is tiresome work.

See my bantam Ameraucana girls squat for me, but don't even look at our rooster. He is not forceful. I think they are playing hard to get

 

[peepblessed]

Dairy goats are fed grains, not grass. They are pricey to keep! Just warning you, and you will be at their mercy-- no late nights out and no vacations. You have to be there to milk, unless they are dry or have a kid. Grain prices are astronomical right now. You can get horses for free around here-- because no one can afford to feed them! I've been slowly getting down in size-- I had 7 horses, and have slowly worked my way down to 3. Still, that is $400 a month. Then you buy your supplements that go in your grain, hay (which is running $80 a bale for round). Three horses eat a bale a week and a half. Sigh. Four acres isn't enough to row for hay. It won't even support one horse, hardly because I'm guessing the house takes up an acre or so of the land. You need 2 acres a horse for it to support a horse, and then it can't be weeds, it must be brome, prairie (less protein) or some other grass that is high in protein. My 7 acres is barren with only 3 horses. Sheep are easier! LOL

ahhhh, very true! Sigh. The coyotes here are baaaaaaad, too.

You can run a donkey with your sheep to protect them from coyotes, but of course it's another mouth to feed!

that is dirt cheap for horse care... WOW! Hopefully that includes their farrier, too. We are at $8+ per square bale of brome-- 100 bales should last you thru the winter with one horse. You might want to see how much chicken math comes into play when you get all of that space and see what you money for! LOL A friend of mine moved out to the country and now she has like 400 birds-- and spends something like $70 every single day in feed!

We are paying $20/bale for alfalfa (120 lb. ea) here in California....

 

[aoxa]

You can run a donkey with your sheep to protect them from coyotes, but of course it's another mouth to feed!


We are paying $20/bale for alfalfa (120 lb. ea) here in California....

Know what I've learned today? No horses for me. I can't afford it!

 

[Hawkeye95]

See my page for a buff that took 5 generations to get. She was buff to the skin, with black skin and comb. The judges appreciated that. Interesting that her father, grandfather, great grand father, great,great grand father, and great,great ,great, grand father was a very good WHITE.The same cock bird for 5 generations!

where is this link? I totally want to see this! That is amazing!

Honestly, he doesn't act all that interested, which concerns me.

LOL mine are all molting, so perhaps yours are too, and when they are, they do get a bit uninterested? You can resort to AI.

You can run a donkey with your sheep to protect them from coyotes, but of course it's another mouth to feed!

We are paying $20/bale for alfalfa (120 lb. ea) here in California....

LOL!! Last thing I need is a donkey. More farrier fees every 6 weeks with another set of feet to be trimmed up. Sigh. Whoa, your alfalfa is high, but ours is pretty high too. I don't ever feed it. I feed brome, and I never buy the square bales-- it's a total rip off for the money. I have a semi truck haul in lots of round bales and drop them off. Then I use my tractor with hay pick to lift and move them into place. But every time I do that, its nearly 1K. Ah well. The things we do for our hobbies! Chickens are cheaper!

Know what I've learned today? No horses for me. I can't afford it!

LOL!


Question-- how hard are wing issues to breed out? Anyone? I have a bird that is not split, but it doesn't look great-- ragged and uneven. Breeds out easily, or very tough to do? What about a bird with great foot feathering X rooster with not so great foot feathering? I've not had the greatest luck with that, but wondered if anyone else has?

 

[aoxa]

where is this link?  I totally want to see this!  That is amazing!  


LOL  mine are all molting, so perhaps yours are too, and when they are, they do get a bit uninterested?  You can resort to AI.  


LOL!!  Last thing I need is a donkey.  More farrier fees every 6 weeks with another set of feet to be trimmed up.  Sigh.  Whoa, your alfalfa is high, but ours is pretty high too.  I don't ever feed it.  I feed brome, and I never buy the square bales-- it's a total rip off for the money.  I have a semi truck haul in lots of round bales and drop them off.  Then I use my tractor with hay pick to lift and move them into place.  But every time I do that, its nearly 1K.  Ah well.  The things we do for our hobbies!  Chickens are cheaper!


LOL!


Question-- how hard are wing issues to breed out?  Anyone?  I have a bird that is not split, but it doesn't look great-- ragged and uneven.  Breeds out easily, or very tough to do?  What about a bird with great foot feathering X rooster with not so great foot feathering?  I've not had the greatest luck with that, but wondered if anyone else has?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/i/5289629/sort/display_order/
Here is the image Dragonlady was talking about

 

[peepblessed]

Question-- how hard are wing issues to breed out? Anyone? I have a bird that is not split, but it doesn't look great-- ragged and uneven. Breeds out easily, or very tough to do? What about a bird with great foot feathering X rooster with not so great foot feathering? I've not had the greatest luck with that, but wondered if anyone else has?

I was pondering this very thing today! I have a cockerel with an "A" rating in every area but wings. I don't believe they are split but definitely aren't a perfect fan. He carries them well. If it was a pullet I would make a try but a cockerel? I just don't know.... Do I sell the poor guy on craigs as a pet and send him to the stew pot?

 

[aoxa]

I was pondering this very thing today! I have a cockerel with an "A" rating in every area but wings. I don't believe they are split but definitely aren't a perfect fan. He carries them well. If it was a pullet I would make a try but a cockerel? I just don't know....  Do I sell the poor guy on craigs as a pet and send him to the stew pot?

How many people truly buy silkies for butcher? I wouldn't. That sounds really weird to me. Some starters would buy a cockerel like this. I did. His issues weren't the wings. More of the colour and the semi wattles around his beard. He never went to the stew pot and is living a much better life. I'm sure there are many out there just like me.

Not everyone is breeding for show remember His wings can't really be that bad if you are even considering breeding him.

 

[Adoravachick]

How many people truly buy silkies for butcher? I wouldn't. That sounds really weird to me. Some starters would buy a cockerel like this. I did. His issues weren't the wings. More of the colour and the semi wattles around his beard. He never went to the stew pot and is living a much better life. I'm sure there are many out there just like me.
Not everyone is breeding for show remember

His wings can't really be that bad if you are even considering breeding him.

I agree, just starting out, I would take a bird like this too.