Silkie thread!

[Fur N Feathers]

Whites generally have bigger crests than other colours anyway, so that is probably why they were okay. Type isn't great on them, but they are a great deal better than some hatchery silkies I've seen!
So if recommending a hatchery if you HAVE to get a hatchery chick, Ideal is better than McMurray?

Yes, I know. I am very close to the Ideal Hatchery in Cameron, Texas, so all the feed store chicks and TSC chicks here are from them. I haven't had any dealings with other hatcheries. Maybe some others can post experiences with them.

If I were going to recommend any, it would be the white chicks from Ideal - just from my own experience. If you are buying them from a feed store you can visually inspect them, check feet, etc. They are already started on electrolytes and medicated chick feed also. If you are ordering direct from the hatchery you don't have that option, but I know a lot of folks buy them like that.

 

[aoxa]

Yes, I know. I am very close to the Ideal Hatchery in Cameron, Texas, so all the feed store chicks and TSC chicks here are from them. I haven't had any dealings with other hatcheries. Maybe some others can post experiences with them.

If I were going to recommend any, it would be the white chicks from Ideal - just from my own experience. If you are buying them from a feed store you can visually inspect them, check feet, etc. They are already started on electrolytes and medicated chick feed also. If you are ordering direct from the hatchery you don't have that option, but I know a lot of folks buy them like that. 

Anyone ever look at Cackle's page on silkies? They have colouring all wrong. Their blues are splash and their blacks aren't black at all.

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/silkie.htm

So if anyone asks me where to get silkie chicks and are set on it being a hatchery, I will mention Ideal white silkies.

Here are some hatchery silkies that were posted earlier in this thread by Peepblessed:

 

[chickendales]

Anyone ever look at Cackle's page on silkies? They have colouring all wrong. Their blues are splash and their blacks aren't black at all.
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/silkie.htm
So if anyone asks me where to get silkie chicks and are set on it being a hatchery, I will mention Ideal white silkies.

Here are some hatchery silkies that were posted earlier in this thread by Peepblessed:

i tell you those pic on there web site are not of birds from there hatchery, bird above a what you would probly get

 

[Sanna]

They are lookin' good!!

Thank you! All the glory to Karen and her breeding. I can't wait to show some of them next year.

I should have something worth taking to a show.

So how do I add these to my stash??

 

[aoxa]

i tell you those pic on there web site  are not of birds from there hatchery, bird above a what you would probly get 

The girls in that picture aren't nearly as bad as that boy.

I just got distracted reading this page where someone claimed that hatchery silkies are closer to the original silkie appearance.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I just hatched my second set of silkies from a reputable breeder this weekend. The ones from my last hatch are 10 weeks and are the fluffiest most beautiful silkies ever. I got one with a lobster claw and some with poorly separated toes, but otherwise gorgeous. This time I am dissapointed that I got a lot of toe issues. One fused and 3 with only 9 toes. Are these issues random or hereditary? These are all the forth and fifth toes by the way.
I've been trying repeatedly to hatch pure blacks to breed to my lav and cuckoos with no luck. This time I had three eggs marked black. One pure black got stuck and died =(. The one that hatched I am not sure about. It looks dark with white wing tips and underside but it has white feet. I know blues have white toes but this guys whole feet are white. I am thinking it might be blue? I will post pics when I get home. Has anyone ever seen this? Will the feet darken or will they stay white?

Incubation temperatures during the first few days can cause toe issues, including preventing the expression of toes that are genetically present.

White wingtips (and bellies) in chick down is extremely common with black birds. When you say white feet, do you mean the skin or the feathers? No silkie should have completely white skinned feet. Pink toes are common, and almost always darken as the bird ages; this has no bearing on plumage colouring. However completely white or pink (or yellow) skinned feet indicates that the bird is genetically lacking in id+ and/or Fm.

Look at the rest of the skin and see what colour it is.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

...
This little guy is 1/3 polish, and the rest silkie. His foot feathers are make him look like he has snowshoes

...

How do you get 1/3?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Frizzled showgirls?

 

[Lrkel]

Incubation temperatures during the first few days can cause toe issues, including preventing the expression of toes that are genetically present.

White wingtips (and bellies) in chick down is extremely common with black birds. When you say white feet, do you mean the skin or the feathers? No silkie should have completely white skinned feet. Pink toes are common, and almost always darken as the bird ages; this has no bearing on plumage colouring. However completely white or pink (or yellow) skinned feet indicates that the bird is genetically lacking in id+ and/or Fm.

Look at the rest of the skin and see what colour it is.

I'm very sure that this incubation was spot on as far as temp. I am using a new genesis and use two other inside probes. Looking back, my humidity may have been a tiny bit on the high side the first 18 days but that's all.
The entire feet are white with a black dot on one toe. The legs are black and so it the rest of the body. I talked to Karen about it and she said that pops up and they usually darken up. I did post some pics a couple pages back. I was also concerned there was a genetic lack of some sort although I know just about basics when it comes to genetics.

 

[Fur N Feathers]

Aoxa are those Peepblessed chickens or just some in general? Do you know which hatchery they are from?

This is the disclaimer at Ideal:

Our bantams are purebred and represent the breed and variety; however, we do not guarantee or represent that they are of show quality.

They probably have them at the other hatcheries also, but it is listed in RED type!

They are the only hatchery that I know of that offer Lavender silkies once a year. I know there are a lot of complaints in the Lavender Silkie thread about them, but there is the occasional nice one that comes from there as well.