Silkie thread!

[peepblessed]

ooo i know how you feel! we can have roosters in our area , but my husband feels if we keep one we might as well post a big sign on our front yard saying " hey we our over the chicken limit" ( my logic is my chickens are small... 2 equals 1 normal size , plus they are quite and my garden is very clean, not bothering anyone here.

)

I hear you can claim they are Asian ground parrots. No one knows they are chickens unless you tell them.

 

[Fancy Feathers]

I hear you can claim they are Asian ground parrots. No one knows they are chickens unless you tell them.

 

[peepblessed]

ooo i know how you feel! we can have roosters in our area , but my husband feels if we keep one we might as well post a big sign on our front yard saying " hey we our over the chicken limit" ( my logic is my chickens are small... 2 equals 1 normal size , plus they are quite and my garden is very clean, not bothering anyone here.

)

I hear you can claim they are Asian ground parrots. No one knows they are chickens unless you tell them.

 

[flower]

Basel Any bearded bird should show more obvious signs of a beard at birth. Even those of not the best quality should give more of a hint than the chick in your picture. Answer no beard for that bird. See the pin feathers are scattered around the head also, just more fuzzy feathers.

I like my birds with beards because the gene that gives beards reduces the size of wattles to very small. And personally I like pea combs and tiny wattles so I don't have to worry about frost bite.

 

[peepblessed]

Thanks peepblessed. I attached a few pix of the poor gangly adolescent! [And one of him/her as a baby.] He/she is truly in the not-very-attractive stage. He/she has a lot of pin feathers on the head and neck but mostly baby fuzz. Right now he/she does have little black/blue feathers starting to pop out on his cheeks and under his beak. These are what are making me wonder about being bearded or not.
Thanks!
As a reminder, this was my original post:

"I have a dumb question.
Do non-bearded silkies have some light short feathers under their eyes [cheeks] and under their chin, or are they mostly just black skin there?

I ask because I have a few hatchery chicks and am trying to determine if they're bearded or not. I thought they were, but one blue I'm thinking now isn't. Since they're hatchery, they aren't as good as a breeders' and less likely to be obvious I believe. They are about 6-7 weeks old now."

Here is a photo of two bearded newly hatched chicks. Of course some have more beard than others.

 

[Basel]

Basel Any bearded bird should show more obvious signs of a beard at birth. Even those of not the best quality should give more of a hint than the chick in your picture. Answer no beard for that bird. See the pin feathers are scattered around the head also, just more fuzzy feathers.

I like my birds with beards because the gene that gives beards reduces the size of wattles to very small. And personally I like pea combs and tiny wattles so I don't have to worry about frost bite.

Here is a photo of two bearded newly hatched chicks. Of course some have more beard than others.

Thanks both.

Yes, I did not think he is bearded, just wasn't sure if the scanty feathers were possibly related to the poorer quality in hatchery chicks [ie, not thick or full beard but sparse or so]. Not to worry though. He has a pet home. I was just curious.
I have some really nice breeder beardeds in the incubator right now [from The Garry Farm and CJ Silkies] , and can't wait for them to hatch!!

Here is another pet quality white. Looks bearded to me, yes? And your babies above are ADORABLE!!!

 

[TheChicknGarden]

ooo i know how you feel! we can have roosters in our area , but my husband feels if we keep one we might as well post a big sign on our front yard saying " hey we our over the chicken limit" ( my logic is my chickens are  small... 2 equals 1 normal size , plus they are quite and my garden is very  clean, not bothering anyone here.  )

 I hear you can claim they are Asian ground parrots. No one knows they are chickens unless you tell them.

Lol seriously? Wow i may just have to tell my husband lol especially since i got some eggs im getting ready to hatch and im sure me and my girls gonna want to keep atleast one. Heck everyone whos seen them dont even think their birds, some ask if they are real. Henny my barred is the only one who looks like a chicken lol

 

[peepblessed]

Thanks both.

Yes, I did not think he is bearded, just wasn't sure if the scanty feathers were possibly related to the poorer quality in hatchery chicks [ie, not thick or full beard but sparse or so]. Not to worry though. He has a pet home. I was just curious.
I have some really nice breeder beardeds in the incubator right now [from The Garry Farm and CJ Silkies] , and can't wait for them to hatch!!

Here is another pet quality white. Looks bearded to me, yes? And your babies above are ADORABLE!!!

Yes, looks bearded to me. Your little "boy" is at a rough age. He will be much prettier soon!

 

[Adoravachick]

I love how fast this board moves! Just wanted to let ya'll know that my chicks are pipping, 4 so far. I am hoping that they will wait to hatch until morning so my daughter can see her babies hatch. I will post pics once they hatch and dry.

 

[cindersga]

As I type I think my black 2 month old silkie "Darkness" is dying. I have let them out during the day in the back yard and they have had a fun time chasing bugs. Today though when I brought them into the house he/she was looking at me with his head upside down. I thought it was strange but he is curious. My husband said something about his head being cranked around and then we both noticed him acting weird in the cage. He can't stand and he can't keep his head upright. Could he have gotten bit by a spider or something? We don't use pesticides so he couldn't of gotten poisoned. I am so upset. I have two white ones and he was my only black. If he passes I want to replace him with a pullet that is 2months old. Do you have any you sell at that age and how much? I live in GA. Thanks

Cindy