Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

Elliot was definitely NOT the biggest white boy there and he was not at the end of the row. 1, 2, and 3 were right next to each other, in the middle of the pack. Elliot's back is longer than first and second so the placing made sense to me even if Elliot was whiter than the second place bird. Type was better in number 2. They also had more fully rounded, bigger crests than Elliot although his was certainly in the running - thus, he got third. Made complete sense to me. I have no complaints. Elliot has a fabulous comb, foot feathering and toe spacing so that kept him in the running.

I believe Kurt, my Opal boy, was the biggest one there! Tipped the scales at 55 ozs but the judge didn't seem too concerned, thankfully! And, yes, he was definitely popular. Star appeal on that boy - coming AND going. The judge didn't dare DQ him!!!

I have loads of pictures so I'll get some posted later.

 

[aoxa]

Elliot was definitely NOT the biggest white boy there and he was not at the end of the row. 1, 2, and 3 were right next to each other, in the middle of the pack. Elliot's back is longer than first and second so the placing made sense to me even if Elliot was whiter than the second place bird.  Type was better in number 2. They also had more fully rounded, bigger crests than Elliot although his was certainly in the running - thus, he got third. Made complete sense to me. I have no complaints. Elliot has a fabulous comb, foot feathering and toe spacing so that kept him in the running.

I believe Kurt, my Opal boy, was the biggest one there! Tipped the scales at 55 ozs but the judge didn't seem too concerned, thankfully! And, yes, he was definitely popular. Star appeal on that boy - coming AND going. The judge didn't dare DQ him!!! 

I have loads of pictures so I'll get some posted later.

You know which white boy I'm talking about right? He was very big.

Kurt looked like all fluff So adorable. Loved him. He reminds me of Scaredofshadow's boy Sherbert (is that his name..?). Anyway, they were very nice.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Kurt IS a motherload of fluff but I'm here to tell you, there is some meat under that fluff as well. That boy tipped the scales! But SUCH a charmer. Kurt was completely in his element at that show!

(To think, I almost didn't bring him .... )

 

[chikincrazee]

Well done Cody !!

How nice to see all those birds in different colors, and all the SAME SHAPE !

Thanks for the compliment we work hard at type...and Loralee thanks and i hope your pair of blue breeders help you out with your program...just remember I usually have birds so if you need some just give me a holler...you still need one of my splash boys...buyers are reporting 100% fertility on the youngsters....i now wish i had brought a couple to sell at the show but with everything else i had going i just ran out of steam!

 

[thedragonlady]

I liked the splashes a lot. Some really nice ones there. Who is it that showed them? Barb?
Also - wish you had have shown some of your partridge birds!
Hawkeye, can you insert your images another way? I can't click them

I really want to see the cock in a larger image

Me too !!

 

[Hawkeye95]

Beautiful new additions too
That rooster is making me drool!

Thank you! And thanks for the congrats!

I liked the splashes a lot. Some really nice ones there. Who is it that showed them? Barb?
Also - wish you had have shown some of your partridge birds!
Hawkeye, can you insert your images another way? I can't click them

I really want to see the cock in a larger image

I'll try to post those pictures another way, thanks for letting me know. I don't know what I did wrong.. hmmm

Overdue reporting on the Canadian Nationals on Saturday: BRILLIANT day for my first time showing. I'm still trying to get back down to earth ... Mickey and Minnie, my black Silkies, were 1st in both their classes, and also took BV and RV. My Splash pullet, Evangeline, took second to the Splash pullet that won the whole enchilada (Best of Breed out of 40!) which totally made my day! Congratulations to Sara for that spectacular win. (And Catdance Silkies who is really responsible for most of these birds as all we did was hatch them!) Kurt and Jessica, my "Opals" as the judge labelled them, (aka - Porcelains/Blue Cream) were awarded BV and RV in the AOV class with Jess getting special mention and my colourful Kurt being a TOTAL crowd favourite even if the judge, Terry Britt, just barely tolerated him. (Kurt has some issues that still need to be worked on. Too much colour, big comb, light eyes.) He (the judge) had GREAT things to say about Jessica and felt that I would do well moving forward with the pair.

My white cockerel, Elliot, did me MOST proud. Took 3rd against some of the best in North America (Shorty Polston and Joe McHugh who also received RB for his white pullet.) Experienced showers and breeders. 8 in Elliot's class and he kept up. My cup runneth over.

Needless to say, I had a GREAT day! Made a point of asking Terry if my birds were too big. He said everybody is right in line with what he is seeing all over North America right now. His assessment of my birds was completely in line with my own which gives me great confidence.

Nobody was DQ'd, not even my splash pullet with the extra toenail - and she even placed! Learned a lot. Was great to have the opportunity to have so many experienced judges and breeders willing to look at and handle my birds, offer opinions, and advice. I am VERY excited to move forward.

FANTASTIC job!! I know I've already told you like two other times-- but I'm just so excited for you! LOL

Kurt IS a motherload of fluff but I'm here to tell you, there is some meat under that fluff as well. That boy tipped the scales! But SUCH a charmer. Kurt was completely in his element at that show!

(To think, I almost didn't bring him .... )

Beautiful!!!!! LOVE them!

Thanks for the compliment we work hard at type...and Loralee thanks and i hope your pair of blue breeders help you out with your program...just remember I usually have birds so if you need some just give me a holler...you still need one of my splash boys...buyers are reporting 100% fertility on the youngsters....i now wish i had brought a couple to sell at the show but with everything else i had going i just ran out of steam!

Yes, I have your two blues in with the two blacks for a few weeks until I can put them into pens with my others. I like them more and more. I'm VERY happy with them, for sure. They have the wings I need! I'm hoping I can get crest size from my boys-- they have that in spades. Can't wait to see what they produce! I'm betting I will have better color, too. My blues are too dark with not much variation. Anyway, it will be fun to see how this goes! I'm going to get with you late winter/early spring about maybe shipping a bird to two. I don't blame you for running out of steam-- there is NO WAY I could have brought 32 birds-- or whatever insane amount of birds you brought. They all looked great, too! I did get a better idea of how you all pack so many birds in. I think I can manage to bring more than 8 birds next time! I took 10 birds home... and I sold two--- so my math wasn't working out too well. I was supposed to come home even! LOL But I went for broke on Bren's fabulous birds! haha! I hope we meet at another show soon!

I have a Kansas Classic coming up here-- so I'm hoping with it not being a Silkie National, maybe our birds will do a little better! There is no winning possible when Christina is in the barn!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: That is my most likely suspect. And toss in backyard enthusiasts who have jumped onto the "make a quick buck" bandwagon when they really know nothing about breeding. These are hte ones selling "show quality eggs" or using hatchery birds as foundation stock.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Yes, they have been present, but not in the percentages seen currently. I knew I needed to find a way to elaborate that point (I need a clobbering my own head smiley).

 

[Hawkeye95]

Okay! I think I figured out how to make these clickable! These are from Birds of Paradise in Texas.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Basically, all the splash in the Canadian show (8) but one were from Catdance. 3 of us showed them. I had 3 pullets entered. There were 2 cockerels that I recently sold, and the winner (BB) was also a Catdance Silkie hatched a week earlier than mine. So Catdance gets all the credit. I have pictures. I'll get some added later.