SILKIE QUESTIONS

[suenrob]

I am new to silkies. My first hatch started yesterday and I have 14 so far. They are just adorable!!!!

I have been looking up info about the vaulted skulls but haven't found much. Are they all supposed to have them? What does it mean, are they better quality or poor quality if they have them? I personally think its quite cute!!

My next question is about sexing. Is there a way to tell what they are at an early age?

That's it for now, but I'm sure I will have more. Thanks

 

[suenrob]

OK, I know there are LOTS of silkie people out there!!! Can some of you help me? Thanks a bunch

 

[Kanchii]

Silkies are one of the hardest breeds to sex. In most cases you wont even be able to tell until they are either crowing or laying eggs!

Vaulted skulls tend to make them have bigger, more full correct crests, so most show birds have vaulted skulls, but it isn't a necessity to produce a nice show bird, I've seen great ones with regular skulls. Unless they are from show lines that have lots of vaulted skulls as parents, you might not even get any.

Have fun with your silkies!

 

[suenrob]

Thanks Kanchii, I've got 2 so far out of 14. I was hoping the boys had the vaults and the girls didn't (wishful thinking, huh?)

 

[BamaChicken]

This website has lots of info and one that deals with vaulted skulls
http://hattricksilkies.homestead.com/

 

[LilPeeps]

Birds with vaulted skulls are generally suseptible to brain damage, as there's a hole in the skull that exposes the brain. Many silkies with vaulted skulls have fuller crests, but you dont need a vaulted skull to get a great crest. I have some silkies with awesome crests that do not have vaulted skulls.

You'll probably have to wait several months before you'll be able to tell the sex on them.

 

[Must Be Losing It]

I'm going to second the vaulted skull issue w/ brain damage. I'm tending to a young silkie who was pecked by an older chick and he's been way off his rocker ever since.

However, I love my silkies and wouldn't trade them for anything.