Silkie thread!

[TAMMACLEAN]

I have a quick question. I bought 2 silkies from TSC and I knew they were hatchery birds. Now I'm wondering if I can breed them and slowly get better birds or if I should just sell them as pets. I know one is a female and one is a male. The problem is lack of foot feathering and lack if "poof" on their head. Plus one has a single comb. So should I just get rid of them??

 

[Jharper]

I have a quick question. I bought 2 silkies from TSC and I knew they were hatchery birds. Now I'm wondering if I can breed them and slowly get better birds or if I should just sell them as pets. I know one is a female and one is a male. The problem is lack of foot feathering and lack if "poof" on their head. Plus one has a single comb. So should I just get rid of them??

I wouldn't breed the single comb for pure breds. You could find a nice poofy rooster for the other one and breed them out. It will take some time though. Then select the offspring you want with good quality and breed them. Selective breeding.

 

[Funky Feathers]

Yes, get rid of them. Those things are hard to breed out, and breeding 2 poor quality birds together will never produce anything better.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

I wouldn't breed the single comb for pure breds. You could find a nice poofy rooster for the other one and breed them out. It will take some time though. Then select the offspring you want with good quality and breed them. Selective breeding.

Yes, get rid of them. Those things are hard to breed out, and breeding 2 poor quality birds together will never produce anything better.

 

Thanks! That's what I figured. I have them listed on CL as pet quality only. They are sweet and will be great pets for someone.

 

[Feathersprings]

I have a quick question. I bought 2 silkies from TSC and I knew they were hatchery birds. Now I'm wondering if I can breed them and slowly get better birds or if I should just sell them as pets. I know one is a female and one is a male. The problem is lack of foot feathering and lack if "poof" on their head. Plus one has a single comb. So should I just get rid of them??

I used to have really good quality Silkies and hadnt had them for about 8 yrs. When I went to get new ones I decided to just have pets... I changed my mind and wanted to breed so sold off all off my original ones and just started over. It sor tof depends on how serious you are about breeding or showing but getting the best you can is the way to start. A good breeders culls are better than most hatchery silkies. Look on Craigs list and watch for nice looking Silkies. Even if they arent from great lines it is better than the ones you are starting with. It sounds like you know more what you want now.

 

[Sanna]

It was such a pretty day yesterday that I let the chicks out for their first outside time. They're a month old now. They were able to roam around securely in the run while the big girls were free ranging in the yard. They scratched around in the new sand, ate some tiny grub worms, took a dust bath and then a nap in the sun. All in all, a very good day.




The big chickens weren't too sure how they felt about the little chickens taking over their run. LOL

Cute.

I think one of my girls went broody! I had 3 eggs set aside. Let's hope she hatches them out! EEE! I wish I had hung on to some of the ones I gave my friend to put in her incubator!

Good luck!

I have a quick question. I bought 2 silkies from TSC and I knew they were hatchery birds. Now I'm wondering if I can breed them and slowly get better birds or if I should just sell them as pets. I know one is a female and one is a male. The problem is lack of foot feathering and lack if "poof" on their head. Plus one has a single comb. So should I just get rid of them??

Well...depends on how big of a project you want to take on. But, like someone already said, you won't get good quality by breeding poor quality to poor quality. Highly unlikely. If you really wanted to keep one of your birds, I'd find another good quality bird to breed to. If you really want to get into breeding and maybe even showing some day, I would definitely get some good birds to start with. That's what I did myself. Got some good hatching eggs last year and this year I am showing and breeding those birds for the first time.

 

[Jharper]

Thanks! That's what I figured. I have them listed on CL as pet quality only. They are sweet and will be great pets for someone.

They could be good broodies if you decide to keep them. Natural incubators work the best!

 

[ceocka]

It was such a pretty day yesterday that I let the chicks out for their first outside time. They're a month old now. They were able to roam around securely in the run while the big girls were free ranging in the yard. They scratched around in the new sand, ate some tiny grub worms, took a dust bath and then a nap in the sun. All in all, a very good day. The big chickens weren't too sure how they felt about the little chickens taking over their run. LOL

Love the chickens checking out babies taking over. They will all be best buds soon.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

I used to have really good quality Silkies and  hadnt had them for about 8 yrs. When I went to get new ones I decided to just have pets... I changed my mind and wanted to breed so sold off all off my original ones and just started over. It sor tof depends on how serious you are about breeding or showing but getting the best you can is the way to start. A good breeders culls are better than most hatchery silkies. Look on Craigs list  and watch for nice looking Silkies. Even if they arent from great lines it is better than the ones you are starting with.  It sounds like you know more what you want now. 

Cute.


Good luck!


Well...depends on how big of a project you want to take on. But, like someone already said, you won't get good quality by breeding poor quality to poor quality. Highly unlikely. If you really wanted to keep one of your birds, I'd find another good quality bird to breed to. If you really want to get into breeding and maybe even showing some day, I would definitely get some good birds to start with. That's what I did myself. Got some good hatching eggs last year and this year I am showing and breeding those birds for the first time.

I do have a few good quality silkies. I was just hoping they would only need some fluffing. Until I looked to see if they were boys are girls and noticed the combs.

They could be good broodies if you decide to keep them. Natural incubators work the best!

That is very true. I have 2 broody silkies right now.

 

[Sanna]

I do have a few good quality silkies. I was just hoping they would only need some fluffing. Until I looked to see if they were boys are girls and noticed the combs.

It's all up to you and how "deep" into the breeding you want to get. If you want to do it just for your own pleasure and have pretty birds, then I guess the breed standard doesn't matter. But if you want to breed for breeding&show birds, definitely get good birds and the SOP book.