Silkie thread!

[MumsyII]

Dapper Dan the wonder paint with Fuzzbucket (partridge) and Shreek (lavender) hunting bugs on the wood pile. Hatched from Catdance eggs Feb. 2013. They gave me thirteen chicks this week and eighteen left in the incubator ready to hatch in the next few days.


Four paint, five lavender, two partridge, and two blue.

 

[Suzierd]

Very nice type on that paint!

 

[mhzl123]

I hatched some silkie eggs on June 26th that I bought from a seller on ebay. I got a good hatch rate but several of my chicks have red combs and one of the chicks with a red comb seems to have a single comb. I read that those characteristics are not standard and are undesirable, is that correct? I am not showing chickens, I just bought them to start a small flock for fun and entertainment for my family and I so it is not that big of a deal but I do have a few questions. They are 6 weeks and two days.

Since the combs on these two are already so red at such a young age does this mean that they are probably roosters or does color not matter on sex when it comes to silkies?




This is the one that seems to have the single comb, is that correct? Also, I read that silkies with single combs tend to be hens, is that true? This one is red also.


Lastly, I read that pullets usually have a round top notch, does this one look like a pullet?

 

[sonderah]

Thank you. Truly.    I've lived and farmed here for twenty five years.

Because of nocturnal predators, They all go into their respective pens for the night. I keep grow out kids, adult silkies, and adult LF in their separate runs for three days and nights straight to train them. After that I can turn them out everyday all day. Then when I'm ready to feed for the last time in the evening, they all know where to go. The  juvenile silkies are just like human teenagers. They take the longest to round up and settle down so sometimes I let them stay out an hour or so longer. Since this picture was taken, I've added electric fence to the perimeter of the pens. No more losses in the night to coyotes since doing that.

How do you keep them from breeding with each other? I'd love to let ALL my pens out together, but afraid I would wind up with non pure fertile eggs. :/

 

[Fancychooklady]

I hatched some silkie eggs on June 26th that I bought from a seller on ebay. I got a good hatch rate but several of my chicks have red combs and one of the chicks with a red comb seems to have a single comb. I read that those characteristics are not standard and are undesirable, is that correct? I am not showing chickens, I just bought them to start a small flock for fun and entertainment for my family and I so it is not that big of a deal but I do have a few questions. They are 6 weeks and two days. Since the combs on these two are already so red at such a young age does this mean that they are probably roosters or does color not matter on sex when it comes to silkies? This is the one that seems to have the single comb, is that correct? Also, I read that silkies with single combs tend to be hens, is that true? This one is red also. Lastly, I read that pullets usually have a round top notch, does this one look like a pullet?

Yes you are correct on all points. Red and straight combs are DQ 's in the show ring. The top 3 are roos and the last one looks to be a pullet. Here's the US standard. http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Standard.html

 

[Sylvester017]

I hatched some silkie eggs on June 26th that I bought from a seller on ebay. I got a good hatch rate but several of my chicks have red combs and one of the chicks with a red comb seems to have a single comb. I read that those characteristics are not standard and are undesirable, is that correct? I am not showing chickens, I just bought them to start a small flock for fun and entertainment for my family and I so it is not that big of a deal but I do have a few questions. They are 6 weeks and two days.

Since the combs on these two are already so red at such a young age does this mean that they are probably roosters or does color not matter on sex when it comes to silkies?




This is the one that seems to have the single comb, is that correct? Also, I read that silkies with single combs tend to be hens, is that true? This one is red also.


Lastly, I read that pullets usually have a round top notch, does this one look like a pullet?

Hate to add to your disappointment but I believe the beaks should be dark and not horn colored. Someone either sold you mixed-breed eggs or just very poor quality stock. Do they at least have 5 feathered toes and blue earlobes? I've seen better looking Silkies from feed store hatchery stock. The bottom Silkie is quite adorable and seems a bit better looking than the other 3. If they are pets only then they should be very sweet but none are SQ.

 

[CrazyChookLady5]

I was just thinking how much he reminded me of my Jaffa.

Although I must say his legs conjure up memories of Alf.

http://typedink.com/2012/08/alf-the-best-puppet-on-tv-ever/

wow they do look alike!

 

[Sylviaanne]

If it were partridge it should be showing black in base of the morcap and in the primary feathers. It looks more like porcelain .

What is a morcap? Thanks.

 

[Roxannemc]

My silkies are 4 months old..my porcelain has obvious wide big comb. .. for sure...roo. the other 2 are black with..more narrow more flat.combs Im leaning toward girls but one is way bigger all over than the porcelain roo and other black " hen"so now im not sure.Can the pullet be a lot bigger than the roo?Do black have a different kind of comb if a roo than porcelain? Ive only had porcelain up to now.

 

[1 Critter Camp]

I hatched eggs from my smooth feathered sizzle and a splash silkie. Both parents exhibit all silkie traits but... some of the chicks have a yellowish beak and a lighter skin color... genetics is an interesting thing!!