Silkie thread!

[Sanna]

I have seen my new SG roo "swish" his tail and the little girl he was with came running and took a cricket out of his mouth, didn't hear a sound or anything. So, they may serve a purpose... I'm not sure though. When she is with the flock of silkies she seems to hold a middle rank over the other younger birds, so I guess I'll just leave well enough alone, as long as she is happy and healthy I will just keep enjoying watching her be an awesome surrogut mother!

I think the chickens communicate with their body language as well. Roosters are a good example of that. I have fun watching them all.

If it was me, I'd just keep an eye on the hen. But if she's healthy and happy, who cares if she's missing some feathers, right?

 

[jsp28504]

I think the chickens communicate with their body language as well. Roosters are a good example of that. I have fun watching them all.

If it was me, I'd just keep an eye on the hen. But if she's healthy and happy, who cares if she's missing some feathers, right?

I'll do some "digging" in that butt fluff, but I think she is missing her tail bones. If she is, I'll find out here in about an hour or two, I'll try to post some more photos. Someone on the American Silkie Bantam group on FB mentioned something about tailless silkies being a genetic mutation, so I may look into that a little more. I know there are cats that are born with out tails, so why not chickens, right?

 

[Scifisarah]

I've worked with horses most of my life so I know where you're coming from.

I've had my Silkies for about 2 years now so I'm still learning. I'm just trying to figure out what the purpose for the tail feathers would be to begin with? Nowadays, people breed for looks (same with horses) and you see all these amazing tail feathers on certain breeds. Like a Phoenix rooster. I can't imagine tail feathers like that would be practical out in the nature..other than attracting females maybe? lol

What is the purpose for the tail feathers on a chicken anyway, does anyone know??

I think for most birds where the male has a bigger tail than the female, it is a visual indicator of the health/genetic superiority that the females can use to choose which male they'd like the genes of for their young.

 

[Sanna]

I'll do some "digging" in that butt fluff, but I think she is missing her tail bones. If she is, I'll find out here in about an hour or two, I'll try to post some more photos. Someone on the American Silkie Bantam group on FB mentioned something about tailless silkies being a genetic mutation, so I may look into that a little more. I know there are cats that are born with out tails, so why not chickens, right?

Why not. There are genetic mutations in all animals. It happens.

I think for most birds where the male has a bigger tail than the female, it is a visual indicator of the health/genetic superiority that the females can use to choose which male they'd like the genes of for their young.

That would make perfect sense.

 

[jsp28504]

Why not. There are genetic mutations in all animals. It happens.

Who wouldn't want a round-ball looking chicken? As long as the local children don't use her as a soccer ball I think we should be fine with tailless chickens!

 

[Lisa Pedro]

The Araucanas are tailless. So they must do fine without tails.

 

[Lisa Pedro]

It depends on how many chickens that you can keep. I, unfortunately, am limited and have to keep my numbers small. But if you do not, that opens up a whole realm of possibilities.

One thing to consider, about white, is that they were the original Silkie and so people use white and black to stabilize type in the other colors. A really nice one, of each color, will help your color breeding program. There are far more knowledgeable people, on BYC, who can give you better detail than I can.

I know I mention Karen but she is the only one that I have met personally and seen her birds and talked with her about her past and future plans, with her birds. If you are looking for eggs, she is a good one to start with and you can talk to her about what eggs that you would prefer. See about getting birds, within driving distance to you as shipping is a lot higher on live birds than on eggs. This will also give you two blood lines for breeding. If you do that, find someone, in your neck of the woods, who's 'type' is like Karen's (Catdance).

Hope that some of this helps.

Sheila

My last two-cents--- never sacrifice structure and type for a pretty color. If you lose that, you lose the whole apple cart.

Thanks Sheila. Well, we just built the first coop. There are my 8 guineas and 9 bantams in there. And at least 3 of the roosters will be leaving. I would like to keep my Silver Penciled Cochin roo and hen. Not sure about keeping my 3 tiny Old English hens. That leaves me with one tiny white Cochin roo that seems special. The underdog. but so cute and sweet, but not to breed.
I am trying to set this up to make the most of what I have now. We will probably add more coops out back as we see the need, but it will be alot of work. The hatchery whites we had were sweethearts but I do not think they were good breeders. I mentioned to my husband about getting an incubator and eggs because the hatcheries can't even guarantee beards. They say bearded and non-bearded. So I think I might get better quality from eggs.
So should I just get all different colors? I read that people keep blue, black and splash together. I am also interested in partridge. Then paint, cuckoo and columbian are nice too. Just trying to make the best first move that I can with this.

 

[Lisa Pedro]

Most colors you should breed only to the same color
the exception is Blues - you can do Blue, Black, and Splash to breed them all together.
Karen Larson - Catdance (Kelar on here)
Geri Godina ( Facebook is where she usually is, i think her SN is obsessivelysilkie on here? )
Judy King (Facebook) - nice splash/blues and whites
Bob Singer (Facebook - doesn't come on here anymore ultra1classic) - nice blue/splash

Thank you for the info. I will be looking into these.

 

[NookNook01]

Hey there.... my question is does anyone have problems with Silkies and their abilities using Nipple Waterers??? I'm getting closer to finishing my winter coop and wanted some input. I've only got 3 Silkies so far and this is my first mini flock of chooks, so I don't want to neglect any one breeds needs planning a waterer for the rest of the flock. Any feedback would be Greatly Appreciated!! Thank You BYC'ers~

 

[jsp28504]

I just checked Ms. Rumpy's back end and it looks like there is absolutly no tail structure, which leads me to beleive she was either A: attacked and survived with the loss of her tail or B: she is a "freak" and was born with out one. I am leaning more toward the genetic mutation, just for the simple fact that there are feathers growing back there.

A top veiw of her "tail" area, yes, I am AD Air Force, and those are my Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) pants



She isn't my most photogenic hen... she was trying to run away...