Silkie thread!

[Sanna]

I'm giving you my comments but only because I know you really wanted them--keep in mind I'm fairly new to this and haven't yet shown birds of my own!



Her feet look nice--great feathering! Her wing looks good to, especially the way she tucks it tight against herself. The pic of just the wing looked a little ragged...but here I'm on the shakiest ground and could very well be full of nonsense. My biggest concern with her as a show bird is she doesn't have a very big 'poof' on her head, and her tail isn't all that full, either. Also, her back appears long because niether the head poof nor tail come close to each other. In other words, she's not 'typey' enough for my wants. Of course, she may grow in more (I believe you said she was a young-ish pullet?) but were she in my breeding program, I would consider her a good breeder but probably not my prize breeder, and I wouldn't show her in any big shows. Maybe the State fair or if my child wanted to show her in the junior division, but not against the big competition in the bigger shows.

Again, I'm a noob to silkies myself (even after three years! lol!) so hopefully you'll hear from others with more experience. Either way, she is a beautiful bird with potential and I would not cull her unless I had an excess of exceptional show birds.

Thank you! I appreciate all the advice I get here, good and bad. I am asking questions so next time I go out looking for a new bird, I'll have a better eye and (hopefully) know what I'm looking at.
I'm hoping Lila will grow some more 'poof' as she gets older. She is only six months old now. She has quite a bit more feathering on her head and tail than she did two months ago when I got her. And if not, that's ok too. She just won't have a big show career and I learned something new! lol My plan was to go to a local fair and see how it goes. I would not dare go to a big show as a first timer, especially when I'm still having to ask questions about my birds quality. I wouldn't want to insult anyone.

So thank you for your comments Country Chickens.
I would love to hear more from anyone who would care to comment. I'm all for brutal honesty!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Thank you! I appreciate all the advice I get here, good and bad. I am asking questions so next time I go out looking for a new bird, I'll have a better eye and (hopefully) know what I'm looking at.
I'm hoping Lila will grow some more 'poof' as she gets older. She is only six months old now. She has quite a bit more feathering on her head and tail than she did two months ago when I got her. And if not, that's ok too. She just won't have a big show career and I learned something new! lol My plan was to go to a local fair and see how it goes. I would not dare go to a big show as a first timer, especially when I'm still having to ask questions about my birds quality. I wouldn't want to insult anyone.

So thank you for your comments Country Chickens.
I would love to hear more from anyone who would care to comment. I'm all for brutal honesty!

Country Chickens pointed out good points.

Whats really nice on Lila when I look at her :

Her wings, good positioning on the body (not lazy, she holds them close and at a good height on the body) She doesn't have split wing (when you spread out the wing if there is a gap as if there may be 1 or 2 missing long feathers - thats split wing) she has nice shredding on the tips of the wings, not too little and not too much. The standard calls for one third of the primary (long end wing feathers) to be nicely shredded.

She has all 5 toes, and they are nicely spaced. Her toe feathering is good but not great, she could definitely use a bit more middle toe feathering for my tastes.

She has a nice curve to the chest, but that is lost with the fact that she looks like shes isn't fully developed and filled out yet.

Things that she is lacking at this point :

More crest, she has a decent crest, but for show you want a much wider rounded crest especially on the girls.

Her tail and cushion are small, you'd want to see more volume and fullness to them. Because her cushion isn't full it gives her back a long appearance.

I don't think her crest will fill in much more (maybe a little) at this age, but her butt may still fill in, she looks younger than 6 months to me, I would give her another 2 months to see how she finishes filling out.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Been a little while since I shared a picture of my pet cockerel, Koda.

He's now about 8 months old and in need of a bath!

He's beautiful! I love his color! And wow-- look at him stand up!!

 

[aurorarose25]

I was wondering if anyone has a pair or trio of cuckoo silkies for sale? I just love this color but its hard to find them..

 

[peepblessed]

Been a little while since I shared a picture of my pet cockerel, Koda.

He's now about 8 months old and in need of a bath!

Very pretty!

 

[peepblessed]

Hi,
longtime no chat Peep. Best advice I can give you on silkies with pasty butts is...... Lower your heat a few degrees, do not use ACV until 8 wks of age or older. Chicks need to build up healthy bacteria and by using acv in the early stages and strip the intestines of much need healthy bacteria. I see to many ppl all over talking about adding to chick waterers and adult water supplies daily. Remember too much of a good thing is never a great way to go

I have a huge problem w medicated chick feed here in New England. First off its not something I can feed to my quail and ducks so I go for unmedicated mash 22-24%, Second the medicated feed isn't enough protection and after several emails and questions about chicks getting cocci even on med chick feed makes me steer away all the more.
I find a 21 day preventative of corrid to be more effective and help rid the dreaded pasty!
Try getting a virgin (chicken free) clump of grass with roots in tact and soil daily for chicks to peck at.
And lastly, olive oil with a Q-tip twice daily day 1-14 helps a lot

Btw, I got your PM and am having a tough time using my phone to respond on PM's I will chat with you soon about your question.
Best Wishes,
Beth

You are always so full of great advice!

 

[Sanna]

Country Chickens pointed out good points.

Whats really nice on Lila when I look at her :

Her wings, good positioning on the body (not lazy, she holds them close and at a good height on the body) She doesn't have split wing (when you spread out the wing if there is a gap as if there may be 1 or 2 missing long feathers - thats split wing) she has nice shredding on the tips of the wings, not too little and not too much. The standard calls for one third of the primary (long end wing feathers) to be nicely shredded.

She has all 5 toes, and they are nicely spaced. Her toe feathering is good but not great, she could definitely use a bit more middle toe feathering for my tastes.

She has a nice curve to the chest, but that is lost with the fact that she looks like shes isn't fully developed and filled out yet.

Things that she is lacking at this point :

More crest, she has a decent crest, but for show you want a much wider rounded crest especially on the girls.

Her tail and cushion are small, you'd want to see more volume and fullness to them. Because her cushion isn't full it gives her back a long appearance.

I don't think her crest will fill in much more (maybe a little) at this age, but her butt may still fill in, she looks younger than 6 months to me, I would give her another 2 months to see how she finishes filling out.

This is what I wanted to hear. Thank you!
If I were to breed this pullet sometime in the future, I would want a rooster with better crest/tail/cushion, correct?

I'm starting to wonder myself how old Lila really is. She was sold to me as 4 months old which would make her 6 months now, but who knows. She was also advertised as a lavender. It's pretty clear that she is not lavender. I brought her home anyway.

Thanks again!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

This is what I wanted to hear. Thank you!
If I were to breed this pullet sometime in the future, I would want a rooster with better crest/tail/cushion, correct?

I'm starting to wonder myself how old Lila really is. She was sold to me as 4 months old which would make her 6 months now, but who knows. She was also advertised as a lavender. It's pretty clear that she is not lavender. I brought her home anyway.

Thanks again!

Glad I could help. She really doesn't look like a finished out girl to me, thats why I say I'd wait atleast 2 more months to see if she continues to fill out.

 

[peepblessed]

While you guys are in the critiquing mode please take a look at my 6 mth. old girl Smoke (I know really original, huh?). I am currently disabled and can't go to a show so I'm really relying on you guys for help. I think her crest is a bit small and tail and cushion lacking. I love her wings, foot feathering and not pictured are her perfectly spaced toes.

Please don't worry about hurting my feelings!!! Thanks!! I forgot to mention that she is trimmed below her eyes.

 

[silkymom1986]

My silkies I hatched 2 days ago, first trip outside!!