Silkie Height?

[JenEric Farms]

I know there is a standard for weight, but I can't find anything for height...so, I am assuming there isn't one. Does anyone know if there is a preference for Silkie height (overall)?

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
I'm not sure as far as height either BUT, in my birds I notice a very upright stance in the roosters that show more leg then I'd prefer, I'm not on it yet but I'd like to see in my own stock in time a little less legginess and a stance more like a good bantam cochin. Just my preferance...I think that might fall under type. I have made several roosters recently that just happened to meet this criteria along with everything else who were chosen for the breeding pens and I am much happier with them.

My way with my silkies is to pick something in each pen that I would like to see improved in summer and in fall (if I have made enough of a dent with the summer babies). Of course I don't forget everything else and it has to be as good in everything else AND whatever that issue is fixed or improved. Legginess isn't one of those things I have hit with focused purpose yet as there are other things I am deeming more important to fix or improve...on the other hand I am not passing up nice compact shorter legged birds either when I sort through them.

 

[JenEric Farms]

If you had to estimate...how tall do you think your Roos/Hens are? I know that keeping within the weight and focusing on roundness of the shape, that height would surely be normal, but I have seen some rather tall looking silkies around lately and wondered how tall peoples silkies really are?

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
I just measured my newest bestest blue rooster with a tape measure next to him (he didn't like that one bit) and he's a just little leggier then I'd like and he measured out at 14-15 inches tall so I'm guessing the hens would be about 12 inches. So I think 12-14 inches would be appropriate.

I'd be interested to hear what others birds are.

 

[JenEric Farms]

Thank You so much! I too wonder what others may average...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Maybe when it's cooler this evening I'll take a tape measure out to the pens.

Silkies really aren't supposed to have exactly the same type as a cochin, although they are ratehr round. The ones who are leggier tend to breed better than the ones who are too round and short.

 

[JenEric Farms]

Thank you Sonoran.

The APA standard calls for "short, stout legs"...but, I have no idea what short should be...lots of room for interpretation.

 

[Windchyme]

Quote:
Yeah I know, but I am wondering if I can reduce just a bit and still keep the breeding ability intact. I have several roosters that are a little more compact that I am really happy with. The last thing I want to be doing is AI on chickens tho. If they can't breed on their own then they aren't going to reproduce LOL.