A local breeder actually and she bought hers from another woman that has show quality ones. So this little 'girl' comes from good breeding
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Silkie thread!
- Thread starter americana-chick
- Start date
A local breeder actually and she bought hers from another woman that has show quality ones. So this little 'girl' comes from good breeding
My oldest Silky hen decided to go broody in the middle of our deep freeze weather. Gave her 6 eggs. First 2 were sterile. 1 was a quiter. 2 hatched. First was a Showgirl, second the fluffiest Silky chick I've hatched ever. But the Silky was splay legged and not spry-died at 2 days. The little Showgirl was Very spry but I found her dead on day 7. :-( So I'm doing a batch in the incubator. Hope this works better.
Thanx to all who contribute to the Silkie thread. Someday if I have 5-6 hours I'll get through all the pics and comments LOL!
Just wanted to say that of all the pet bantams I pondered, I am so-o-o glad I went w/ Silkies. I was gifted a hatchery Partridge and a year later got a Black from a private breeder. The hatchery Partridge girl was never 100% beautiful but decently fluffy and later I learned there are different degrees of Partridge shading. The private breeder Black is SQ nice.
Both are backyard free-range birds. For all their "pretty girl" looks, they are one hardy backyard breed. They weather our very hot So Calif heatwaves and cold rain doesn't stop their foraging in the least. The Partridge hides til it stops raining but the Black is out in the puddles w/ the bigger breeds and will look like a drowned rat after a romp in the water. The next day both Silkies are pretty and fluffy again ready for another go at foraging. They are hardy but we monitor and inspect for the usual routine care of free-range Silkies.
Since the Silkies love to forage and dust-bathe I never considered a White and settled for 2 darker colors. I read somewhere that Black and White are the most hardy of the varieties and wondered if anyone had an opinion about that? I only have Partridge and Black to compare and so far my Black is the smartest, the loudest, the quickest, most sociable, most independent, most alert of the two colors. Both are sweet (but not docile), comical, and lay well (1.25 to 1.5 oz eggs) but the Black seems to have a bit more smarts. Oddly, the Partridge is the alpha in a flock of 2 Silkies and 2 medium LF but the Black Silkie does not submit to the Partridge. The Black doesn't overlord the 2 LF like the Partridge does. And the Black will not allow anyone to overlord her either.
If you have knowledge re the hardiness of any particular color please let me know.
Just wanted to say that of all the pet bantams I pondered, I am so-o-o glad I went w/ Silkies. I was gifted a hatchery Partridge and a year later got a Black from a private breeder. The hatchery Partridge girl was never 100% beautiful but decently fluffy and later I learned there are different degrees of Partridge shading. The private breeder Black is SQ nice.
Both are backyard free-range birds. For all their "pretty girl" looks, they are one hardy backyard breed. They weather our very hot So Calif heatwaves and cold rain doesn't stop their foraging in the least. The Partridge hides til it stops raining but the Black is out in the puddles w/ the bigger breeds and will look like a drowned rat after a romp in the water. The next day both Silkies are pretty and fluffy again ready for another go at foraging. They are hardy but we monitor and inspect for the usual routine care of free-range Silkies.
Since the Silkies love to forage and dust-bathe I never considered a White and settled for 2 darker colors. I read somewhere that Black and White are the most hardy of the varieties and wondered if anyone had an opinion about that? I only have Partridge and Black to compare and so far my Black is the smartest, the loudest, the quickest, most sociable, most independent, most alert of the two colors. Both are sweet (but not docile), comical, and lay well (1.25 to 1.5 oz eggs) but the Black seems to have a bit more smarts. Oddly, the Partridge is the alpha in a flock of 2 Silkies and 2 medium LF but the Black Silkie does not submit to the Partridge. The Black doesn't overlord the 2 LF like the Partridge does. And the Black will not allow anyone to overlord her either.
If you have knowledge re the hardiness of any particular color please let me know.
Hello,
Let my broody silkie hatch some eggs over summer. Since it was my first time I gave about 10 away. I kept one that appeared to be a runt. She had a vaulted skull, tiny size, and a blackish color all over. When she started feathering out she looked like she had a blond fur coat on a blackish color body. Now, she looks like my porcelain hen only darker. So, we thought that the porcelain was her mama. Her daddy is solid white. She is 5 months old and looks like she has a bonnet thing going on but none of the 3 potential mamas nor dad have bonnet crests. Also, she has a gold penciling on her wing feathers or gold lacing. Is this normal? At the time we had a porcelain, paint, and blue hen. She is still extra small size. None of the other chicks that i gave away had this coloring as i have been sent update pics of them and they are large sized compared to her. I will post pics soon if weather permits. But would like to know if there are such colors as gold laced silkies.
Let my broody silkie hatch some eggs over summer. Since it was my first time I gave about 10 away. I kept one that appeared to be a runt. She had a vaulted skull, tiny size, and a blackish color all over. When she started feathering out she looked like she had a blond fur coat on a blackish color body. Now, she looks like my porcelain hen only darker. So, we thought that the porcelain was her mama. Her daddy is solid white. She is 5 months old and looks like she has a bonnet thing going on but none of the 3 potential mamas nor dad have bonnet crests. Also, she has a gold penciling on her wing feathers or gold lacing. Is this normal? At the time we had a porcelain, paint, and blue hen. She is still extra small size. None of the other chicks that i gave away had this coloring as i have been sent update pics of them and they are large sized compared to her. I will post pics soon if weather permits. But would like to know if there are such colors as gold laced silkies.
Whoo hoo! Two new boys... "Prince" Shiny and sweet black with a little silver (to go with my Paint pullet), and "Bonnroo" Blue Partridge. 
Other side of Bonnaroo
Congrsts on the new boys Pam. In the last one he looks like he is bowing.
Looks like I'm in for a name change. Mr Silver Britches to Lady Silver Bloomers. All the boys were dancing for her and on inspection she still has a very small comb in comparison to the other 3. I'm as sure as you can be with a Silkie until you get a egg its a pullet.
Looks like I'm in for a name change. Mr Silver Britches to Lady Silver Bloomers. All the boys were dancing for her and on inspection she still has a very small comb in comparison to the other 3. I'm as sure as you can be with a Silkie until you get a egg its a pullet.
drumstick diva
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Sylvester, I don't think it's a color thing. Your black silkie is smarter, sociable, etc. etc. because he was raised by a breeder who chose the parents, and spent time & gave attention to the brood. The porcelain came from a hatchery, and probably had none of those advantages.
I have bad news. My Isaac , a white silkie who was around 4 months was killed. Some animal came in back door of garage and took off with him. All I heard was screams that soon faded. So sad.
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