Silkie Phantam?

[LilJoe]

Looks like a partridge silkie. What colors/varieties of silkies do you have?

 

[gojira]

Plus Silkies are can be difficult to breed, especially with a pheasant.

Someone forgot tell that to my Silkies. What makes you say Silkies can be difficult to breed? I do agree it is not likely a Silkie mated with a pheasant, but in general, a well bred Silkie is no more difficult to breed than any other breed.

 

[Amer]

Like Cochins, Silkies, especially show quality ones, are difficult because of their fluffy bottoms, plus their eyes can be covered by CRESTS and beards, but those can be cut away.

 

[LilJoe]

My silkies have the fluffiest booties ever and their eggs are fertile...

 

[Amer]

Ok I guess I was wrong. But Cochins still can have trouble when they are show quality. I found it out from a Cochin breeder.

 

[gojira]

Like Cochins, Silkies, especially show quality ones, are difficult because of their fluffy bottoms, plus their eyes can be covered by CRESTS and beards, but those can be cut away.

Ok I guess I was wrong. But Cochins still can have trouble when they are show quality. I found it out from a Cochin breeder.

Do you have show quality Silkies or Cochins? I have both. Even if the fluff were a problem, there is an easy solution. And what does their eyes being covered by crests and beards have to do with breeding? That is the wrong end. I am not sure which Cochin breeder told you that, but that is not always true.

 

[Amer]

Yes it does depend. He breeds the for type using artificial insemination to the point that they cannot breed naturally. I should have mentioned that earlier. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[gojira]

Yes it does depend. He breeds the for type using artificial insemination to the point that they cannot breed naturally. I should have mentioned that earlier. Sorry about the confusion.

I have not heard of Cochins that were unable to breed naturally. If that were the case, that is more than fluff, that would be structure.

 

[Amer]

Yeah. Part of it is fluff, but part of it is structure. It is so difficult to breed them because of the fluff, so he does Artificial Insemination, which makes it difficult to breed them. Let me clarify, even though you probably already guessed this, they are bantam Cochins.

 

[gojira]

I think some people assume the fluff will hinder fertility and not try breeding without modifications. But, the fluff is easily taken care of, and the methods are commonly known. If the animals, especially bantams, are having a tough time breeding naturally, one really needs to rethink their breeding program. I had a buff orpington male that weighed 15 lbs., had as much fluff as my cochins, and had excellent (95+%) fertility for several years. This breeder may choose to artificially inseminate, and that is their choice, but inability to breed naturally is a problem.