Silkie thread!

[NewToFarming]

I am trying to learn my silkies!

Can you guys let me know if this boy is a good example of a young partridge roo? He is about 4 1/2 months old. I had to bring him in the house because the other roos are running him off which btw I have way too many roos and will need to rehome some of them. Let me know if anyone would be interested!!
I am trying to learn what would be good color and body type, etc. I read the standard for silkies but it helps me more by seeing it. I really like this little one! He is a very sweet boy!! Thanks for your help!!!

 

[Brody's Broodello]

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I would definately hold on to him & grow him out. He has nice color ( boys are always redder in Partridge) Like the dark chest, nice foot feathering, and wings appear to be tight. All in all a nice P Cockeral. He should be stunning at 8 months!

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Have to agree with Brody~~~that young man has the makings of a very fine Partridge cockerel. Nice dark comb; appears to have great foot feathering.....and of course~~the chest thats developing into black. Definitely a keeper

 

[Elite Silkies]

Although, I do not breed Partridge, I am going to agree. He has very nice foot feathering, nice tight wings, and a decent crest starting. Can't comment much on the color because I do not know what to look for color wise with partridge silkies. But, I think he is going to be a very nice Rooster.

 

[laughingdog]

ive always been told to never mark my hatching eggs (inverts and herps), or live animals, as fragile etc... and have never gotten bad batches that were never marked, as opposed to alot seen marked (knew people working for UPS and other major currier's that say the people purposely destroy packages, and seen it done.

 

[NewToFarming]

Thanks! It really helps by seeing what would be a good roo! I am definitely holding onto this one! I might have a few others to ask your opinions on but knowing this guys wings are good, etc will help me with the others!

 

[LeasureChix]

Colie <3 :

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Colie<3- Agreed.........on my first hatching attempt out of 48 shipped eggs, 24 made it to lock down, and 15 hatched. One was with its brain exposed. Yes I said brain exposed. It took me two days to finally have it put down. DH says if I cant deal with having to occasionally put chicks down, NOT to set anymore eggs!! I also paid HUGE bucks for another 24 eggs in which only 3 (yes three) developed. Still waiting for those to hatch. I have another 24 eggs in the incubator right now which I candled a few days ago, and its not looking too good. I use a Brinsea advanced too and humidity is not a problem. I'm wondering if the USPS shakes my boxes marked "priority fragile hatching eggs" for the fun of it??? Myself, I'm wondering what percentage is to be considered successful when hatching silkie eggs? And I'm really considering buying chicks, and saying toodaloo to the Brinsea.......CCK

My mom works for the post office and I've talked to several employees that agree when the mail is being sorted if they see fragile they pretty much treat it like all the other packages. No special handling most of the time. My mom is a rural carrier and she does take care with fragile packages but she used to work years ago sorting and agrees unless it's a live animal which is set to the side separately people sorting usually aren't caring about fragile packages. What I was told is they assume since it's marked fragile that the shipper packed whatever is in there well and it's the shipper responsibility to have done so. Thanks right? lol Also was told to mark the packages with something eye catching as most ignore the "eggs" label as much as the "fragile" part. So yeah I'm thinking they are pretty much beating the crap outta and drop kicking the eggs we are all getting unless their attention is grabbed in some way and even then who's to say the next hands on the box even pay attention? Throw in temperatures and possible xrays and wow shipping eggs sucks right?

After you posted about the chickie with it's skull exposed/brain exposed I did some research and saw mostly that what happened is pretty seldom, thank goodness. I'm surprised the poor little guy even made it two days but you did the right thing by putting it down. In my experience quality chicks are hard to come by but Bobbi Porto does sell some beauties in the spring time IMO so she is a good source. You might do better finding a good breeding pair or trio then hatching your own eggs at home and going from there

That at least is my plan

Fragile is not enough. The real key words for the box are "LIVE HATCHING EGGS" or "LIVE EMBRYOS". Even if you don't pay for "special handling" or "Express Mail", hatching eggs marked properly are to be handled just like LIVE BIRDS. When done properly, the eggs travel the same way as live chicks. The postal cages are specifically marked "LIVE". They go on the same trucks but they don't go through the same sorting. At our local facility, the handlers keep the chicks and eggs inside where the temps stay even while they wait for their next truck. Of course, postal employees are human and exceptions do occur. One of the boxes I just got had a piece of red ribbon on it. I think that was a great idea, it calls attention to the markings on the box. IMO, if boxes aren't marked "LIVE HATCHING EGGS", you get what you get. I wouldn't want my eggs to travel as regular mail or even "fragile". As live eggs, the box should be put in a white postal tub and given special treatment, all the way to it's destination.

Heading to Stevenson this morning for my first Poultry Show, I'm really excited! Just watching today but hope to come back in October as an exhibitor.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Julie

 

[silkieluver_07]

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I really like him! His chest is nice and dark, which seems to be elusive in the partridge males! Great job!

 

[NewToFarming]

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I really like him! His chest is nice and dark, which seems to be elusive in the partridge males! Great job!

Thanks! I am happy with his personality too which is a plus! Can you silkie experts tell me what is the best color to mate with a splash hen? Is it black???

 

[muddyhorse]

if you mate a splash to black you will get 100% blue if you mate her to blue you will get blue and splash, if you mate to splash you will get 100% splash but they will start to look washed out. always pick type over color