Silkie thread!

[Nikkipar]

Just sharing a pic of my ladies I took today.  Pearl, the silkie, Lady Peckington the sizzle, and Poppy the Plymouth Rock.





Tried to get one of just the silkie and the sizzle but we were photobombed by a Plymouth Rock.

Lol, only chicken people! Photobombed by a Plymoth Rock..... Is it weird I find that so amusing?

 

[4hchickmama]

That's awesome. Did you buy chicks or hatching eggs? Was it a silkie that was molting? (poor thing) My son almost did 4H showmanship this year but we missed the deadline. Wish I had been more diligent. It is such a good experience and learning opportunity.

I bought 2 older birds (4 months at the time...my daughter had emergency heart surgery earlier in the year and our chicken plans were delayed), but I also got a polish chick and a cochin chick off of her.

We are doing Gold Country Fair in Sept.

My silkie won first for breed and she was umm not fantastic as a showmanship bird, but I wasn't expecting her to be. Silkies do not want to walk across the table for any reason...especially not when you are trying to encourage them to move with a show stick. They want to sit on it and try to hatch it.

 

[4hchickmama]

Lol, only chicken people! Photobombed by a Plymoth Rock..... Is it weird I find that so amusing?

No...I thought it was hilarious! She does it all the time. She thinks The camera might hold some hidden treats or something.

 

[Hawkeye95]

So it's possible that's the reason? She is quite fluffy around that area

My roo is fine. She's broody again, so when she is getting back to it, I'll trim.

Yeah, I had a LOT of fertility issues earlier this year. I realized my roo was not quite great at breeding yet, and all the fluff was in the way. I did AI. But I think if you trim them up right around their vent, it will work a lot better.

I bought 2 older birds (4 months at the time...my daughter had emergency heart surgery earlier in the year and our chicken plans were delayed), but I also got a polish chick and a cochin chick off of her.

We are doing Gold Country Fair in Sept.

My silkie won first for breed and she was umm not fantastic as a showmanship bird, but I wasn't expecting her to be. Silkies do not want to walk across the table for any reason...especially not when you are trying to encourage them to move with a show stick. They want to sit on it and try to hatch it.

Actually, if you have the right bird, I think silkies might be the best bird you could use for showmanship! We use a rooster, because you can position him well and he will stay in it, and he takes well to being moved and wings pulled on, etc. He works out better than most of our birds. At our last showmanship, my son used his favorite bird, which is a pullet and she did pretty good. She didn't want to stay in position when he moved her, but she wasn't bad. She takes handling VERY well. She just goes limp which is perfect for holding while you are pointing out all the parts. You probably need to use a different bird next time.

ETA-- oh and I am so sorry about your daughter's heart surgery. How scary!! I hope she is doing very well now.

 

[CALI CHICK]

I bought 2 older birds (4 months at the time...my daughter had emergency heart surgery earlier in the year and our chicken plans were delayed), but I also got a polish chick and a cochin chick off of her.

We are doing Gold Country Fair in Sept.

My silkie won first for breed and she was umm not fantastic as a showmanship bird, but I wasn't expecting her to be. Silkies do not want to walk across the table for any reason...especially not when you are trying to encourage them to move with a show stick. They want to sit on it and try to hatch it.

I hope your daughter is doing good and healing after such a serious surgery. Does she enjoy the chickens a lot? I've overheard my own son outside sharing his heartaches and problems with our chickens. I even catch myself in the silkie pen because I just need some chicken therapy. I just made my first chicken apron (which I love) and posted a picture on the California Northern thread because I have to pick them up and hold them so much. (And I got tired of changing clothes 4 times a day.)

I definately want to check out the Gold County Fair this year. Do you have the birds there every day or just certain days of the fair?

BTW- Sherie told me a little trick on how to train your silkie to walk across the table. She used this idea with her grandson. You do know how silkies LOVE mealworms, right? Well, I found dried ones (at WalMart of all places) which you attach to the end of the show stick. At home you practice lurring them across the yard, the pen, the picnic table -wherever! Then, by the time of a real show they literally run across the table to that show stick...whether there is a mealworm attached or not!

Try it and see if it works out for you. Good Luck!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Here is a photo of one of my splash at 5 mths. I thought I could see some streamers coming in on the right hand bird. A couple of months later she laid an egg. I would give your splash a little more time. It's stance does look girly to me.

Thank you, Peeps. Those 2 splash in your picture a beautiful. They seem so big compared to my juvenile silkies! Are they both hens? Also, do you have a splash rooster and if so, did his streamers come in long grey/black feathers?

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Thank you, Peeps. Those 2 splash in your picture a beautiful. They seem so big compared to my juvenile silkies! Are they both hens? Also, do you have a splash rooster and if so, did his streamers come in long grey/black feathers?

a splash cockerel will get in whatever color his body is, light (white/pale blue) or dark (the color of the splashes - medium blue to dark blue). not just one color...it always depends on the shade of the splash, since some can be almost white based and the streamers may be mostly base (light) colored, and other birds are darker base with heavy splashing and so may have the darker streamers. hope that helps!

 

[peepblessed]

I bought 2 older birds (4 months at the time...my daughter had emergency heart surgery earlier in the year and our chicken plans were delayed), but I also got a polish chick and a cochin chick off of her.

We are doing Gold Country Fair in Sept.

My silkie won first for breed and she was umm not fantastic as a showmanship bird, but I wasn't expecting her to be. Silkies do not want to walk across the table for any reason...especially not when you are trying to encourage them to move with a show stick. They want to sit on it and try to hatch it.

I can't imagine how terrifying emergency surgery on your child would be. I pray all is well with her...

 

[peepblessed]

a splash cockerel will get in whatever color his body is, light (white/pale blue) or dark (the color of the splashes - medium blue to dark blue). not just one color...it always depends on the shade of the splash, since some can be almost white based and the streamers may be mostly base (light) colored, and other birds are darker base with heavy splashing and so may have the darker streamers. hope that helps!

Well said!

 

[peepblessed]

Thank you, Peeps. Those 2 splash in your picture a beautiful. They seem so big compared to my juvenile silkies! Are they both hens? Also, do you have a splash rooster and if so, did his streamers come in long grey/black feathers?

The one on the left is 7 months now and hasn't laid yet. I'm pretty sure it's a she but will make an awesome roo if not! She is kind of big. I need to get them weighed after what Hawkeye went through!