Silkie thread!

[Hinotori]

I've been selecting against the gene for the black heads and against the orange males. Both were very hard to get rid of. No other breed seems to have that issue on their partridge coloring.


Now I'm working on making the females the darker overall partridge like the pullet above. Many of mine are a bit lighter in the color. Side effect of me focusing on the other two coloring issues.

 

[Sylvester017]

I did not know that Silkies could have pink combs.

Chickens of ANY breed are difficult to breed "perfect." Pink or red combs on Silkies are a DQ. Should be mulberry to dark. My little Black Pullet has a nice black stubby tiny comb, but her earlobes are blackish-gray instead of the desired blue earlobes. Breeders have a difficult job of getting a Silkie to meet ALL requirements. Unfortunately, every hatched Silkie chick is not perfect. Sometimes they don't have blue earlobes, sometimes the wrong body type or size, sometimes too many or not enough toes on each foot, blotchy pink and black skin, etc etc etc. DQs make the Silkies pet quality but they are still sweet birds -- just can't use them in a breeding program.

 

[Sylvester017]

Awww, beautiful! I miss the days when my Silkies had smaller poufs, and could still see. They are 3 1/2 months old now, and pretty much blinded by fluff.

TeeHee! Leave them outside to forage or dig in muddy soil -- their crests and beards get so matted they can see fine!

 

[Cerise1924]

TeeHee! Leave them outside to forage or dig in muddy soil -- their crests and beards get so matted they can see fine!

 

[Cerise1924]

6 weeks old. Male on left, female on right





Same male at 15 weeks





Same female at 14 weeks

 

[Sylvester017]

Just got 34 new chicks, 4 of which are silkies!! I'm a first timer with silkies. Any tips, advice, etc?

Honestly haven't done much research yet...kind of fell into getting a few of them. I've heard they're good "homesteading chickens" what does that even mean?!? Either way, looking forward to watching them grow and learning more about them!

Usually "homesteading" are chickens that are good foragers, brood their own young, make good family pets, are good to use as broodies to hatch other poultry breed eggs, etc. They are a good all-around chicken breed and seem to handle hot climates as well as cool weather as long as they aren't soaked to the skin to get "chilled" because Silkie fur doesn't repel water like smooth-feather breeds.

 

[LadyVictorian]

My OCD would kill me letting my silkies get all dirty. >.< I had to give Sora a bath because someone pooped on her back >.<

 

[Hinotori]

Washing mud out sucks. They tend to figure out that if they get their crests wet they can spike them out of the way. Then you never have a dry head. I have hens that will dunk their heads in the water bowl. Others prefer the rain or dew on the fence. Some will stand out in the rain if given a chance.

 

[Cerise1924]

Washing mud out sucks. They tend to figure out that if they get their crests wet they can spike them out of the way. Then you never have a dry head. I have hens that will dunk their heads in the water bowl. Others prefer the rain or dew on the fence. Some will stand out in the rain if given a chance.

That is funny! Hmmm... I've kept my puffballs clean and dry, thus far. They have a big, fully covered run. Maybe I should go for haircuts?

 

[Sylvester017]

My OCD would kill me letting my silkies get all dirty. >.< I had to give Sora a bath because someone pooped on her back >.<

I spot-wash poop or gravelly mud off before it dries hard on Silkie fur. I avoid dunking the Silkie completely in a bath if I can help it -- usually it's only the crest, legs, or vent feathers that need a spot treatment w/ baby shampoo. For the crest I use a damp soft baby washcloth and avoid shampoo there.