Silkie thread!

[monkcat]

How common are cuckoo silkies? I semi-recently acquired one. It's so interesting looking! As for it's personality, it could use a little work. Very nervous and unfriendly. Here's an older picture of her, but she's grown so much in the last few weeks. At first I thought the cuckoo wouldn't come out, but it's gotten much more noticeable recently.

I'm not terribly familiar with Silkies - have a couple of young babies - but the comb looks very red to me. Thought pure Silkies should have a dark comb? Or is the cuckoo color a blend? Cool looking chick.

 

[SJchickens]

I'm not terribly familiar with Silkies - have a couple of young babies - but the comb looks very red to me. Thought pure Silkies should have a dark comb? Or is the cuckoo color a blend? Cool looking chick.

From what I understand of it, the barring gene that causes the cuckoo color dilutes the skin, making it bluish and sometimes pink or red. Correct me if I'm wrong . Here's a thread (an old one) all about cuckoos. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/368585/cuckoo-silkies

Cuckoo is the barring gene without the fast feathering gene. However, due to the nature of silkie feathers, I doubt you would se much difference between a bird with and one without fast feathering. The barring gene also dilutes skin colour, so you will be fighting red combs and pale skin. People have managed to darken up the skin and combs over multiple generations, but be forewarned that that is not an easy task.

Here's a picture I pulled off of google of an adult cuckoo rooster.




Although it can't be shown, I love my cuckoo <3. Sweetest little thing though it doesn't really want to be my friend . I'll go snap a picture of it now to post. Hoping for pullet.

 

[WVduckchick]

x2 on male, but you never know with silkies :I. As for the colors, I'm not very good at that, so someone more experienced can answer

I just have to say your avatar is adorable!!

 

[SJchickens]

I just have to say your avatar is adorable!!

Oh, thanks! We used to own a cockerel that would jump and skip around aggressively. It was so hilarious! We had to rehome him, but I thought I would google "jumping chicken" and see what I would get. So now this is my avatar!

 

[monkcat]

From what I understand of it, the barring gene that causes the cuckoo color dilutes the skin, making it bluish and sometimes pink or red. Correct me if I'm wrong . Here's a thread (an old one) all about cuckoos. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/368585/cuckoo-silkies



Here's a picture I pulled off of google of an adult cuckoo rooster.




Although it can't be shown, I love my cuckoo <3. Sweetest little thing though it doesn't really want to be my friend . I'll go snap a picture of it now to post. Hoping for pullet.

Thank you so much for the explanation! Was wondering. As I said, I am not at all familiar and am trying to learn. They are really cool looking. Will definitely check out the thread you linked. 'preciate!

 

[silkiecuddles]

https://www.facebook.com/ChickenBreeds

Here's a facebook link to the Spring Hill place in Spring Hill FL.

 

[flufssilkies]

what color would you say he is? He is a dark buff color with black tail.

 

[Rowsdower]

what color would you say he is? He is a dark buff color with black tail.

I think most folks would call him red.

 

[kyexotics]

what color would you say he is? He is a dark buff color with black tail.

Definitely "Red"! We have a gorgeous rooster of that color named, "Red" LOL



He was product of these two(rooster on left in left pic, hen on right in right pic)):

 

[HisKoolGurl]

I had my silkies tested and 1 is a rooster. My favorite one at that. My question is do they crow as loud as other breeds of roosters? I live in a subdivision so can't really have them but if it's not as loud as others, might just be ok. Thought anyone.

Mines not super loud but my issue is he won't stop crowing. It's like all day and all night. I live in a subdivision too and Im shocked no one has comaines yet lol. We will have to rehome him once someone does.