Silkie thread!

[Fancychooklady]

Do you think maybe a pea comb? And is a pea comb a disqualification?

It's a cross between a walnut and straight. Silkie straight combs come in different shapes and sizes.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I'm having trouble with my chicks hatching they can't get out of the shell, are my shells too hard? I feed layer crumbles because I had egg bound issues when I wasn't feeding the layer. I also have oyster shell on the side. Any thoughts on what to do?

Are you hatching under a broody or using an incubator ?
It's more likely to be a humidity issue. I also had a hatch of full term 'quitters ', turned out my incubator was running 6 degrees lower than the digital display was reading. It might pay to recalibrate your incubator if you are using one.

 

[jas humbert]

For those wondering about comb types- here is useful chart from 104homestead.com. I like that it has photos not drawings. But keep in mind, there can be a lot of crossbreed and in-between styles that aren't any recognized breed style.

#1 Buttercup Combs

The buttercup comb is reserved for the breed that carries its name. The buttercup comb has a very small single comb in the center, with larger ones on either side. Breed with a Buttercup Comb: Sicilian Buttercups
#2 Cushion Combs

The cushion comb is similar to the rose comb, but cushion combs are rounded and smaller than the rose. They also have no point. Breed with a Cushion Comb: Chanteclers
#3 Pea Combs

Pea combs often have 3 rows of peas side by side, although sometimes there is only 1 row. The peas are little bumps, usually quite uniform in shape and size. As the bird matures the comb grows, sometimes losing its neat, ordered appearance and becoming a large blob on its head. Breeds with Pea Combs: Ameraucanas, Araucanas, Brahmas, Cornish
#4 Rose Combs

Rose combs are normally flat and close to the bird’s head. Sometimes it will form a point and extend further back than the rest of the comb. Breeds with Rose Combs: Wyandottes, Dominiques, Hamburghs, Sebrights
#5 Single Combs

The single comb is the most common. It is a simple straight row of spikes beginning at the bird’s nostrils and sweeping back its head. Breeds with Single Combs: Rocks, Australorps, Cochins, Leghorns, Rhode Islands
#6 Strawberry Combs

Strawberry combs are very similar to rose combs, except that they form no point and are not as flat. They are raised higher and sometimes resemble strawberries, hence the name. Breeds with Strawberry Combs: Malays, Yokohamas
#7 V-Combs

Breeds with V-combs have the appearance of little devils, with their long red horns. Breeds with V-Combs:Houdans, Polish, Sultans
#8 Walnut Combs

Walnut combs look almost exactly like the nut. Big, pitted, and round, they can grow quite large and nearly cover their bird’s face. Breed with a Walnut Comb: Silkies

 

[Zgm12]

He/she is about 8 weeks now I think are these better pics?

Hmm...the comb is a bit more prominent here than in the first picture you posted. That's a sign of a rooster. The crest isn't round and poofy either. Hens usually have round crests whereas roosters have "slicked back" crests. Maybe post in a few more weeks. Sorry I couldn't help you. You could see if anyone on the Silkie sexing thread knows.

 

[QueenMisha]

Though I'd tell everyone that my test run for my Sex Linked Silkie project was a success. Despite coccidiosis issues this year that took out a lot of my chicks over just a few days time, I managed to save five of the chicks I hatched from my breeding pair (Cuckoo sizzle hen, carrier of the Silkie gene, and a Red Partridge Silkie cock). I made determinations of sex based on beak and skin color at one day of age and as they've matured I've found accuracy to be 100%. I was unable to sex by the color of the down on the head, like I had expected to; it was all rather muddled gray and the crest tended to distort the spot to the point where it was hard to distinguish. However, their beaks were my saving grace; thank the Barring gene for its tendency to lighten skin. All of the females showed a pure black beak; males had a light gray and white one. Males also had lighter skin. Here they are now, at approximately 12 weeks of age. (Or thereabouts. My hatching records have disappeared into my desk drawers... somewhere).

Cockerels:

Pullets:

 

[kjscortez]

Though I'd tell everyone that my test run for my Sex Linked Silkie project was a success. Despite coccidiosis issues this year that took out a lot of my chicks over just a few days time, I managed to save five of the chicks I hatched from my breeding pair (Cuckoo sizzle hen, carrier of the Silkie gene, and a Red Partridge
cock). I made determinations of sex based on beak and skin color at one day of age and as they've matured I've found accuracy to be 100%. I was unable to sex by the color of the down on the head, like I had expected to; it was all rather muddled gray and the crest tended to distort the spot to the point where it was hard to distinguish. However, their beaks were my saving grace; thank the Barring gene for its tendency to lighten skin. All of the females showed a pure black beak; males had a light gray and white one. Males also had lighter skin. Here they are now, at approximately 12 weeks of age. (Or thereabouts. My hatching records have disappeared into my desk drawers... somewhere).

Cockerels:

Silke

Pullets:

I love your barred chicks!!

 

[beethechicken]

Hmm...the comb is a bit more prominent here than in the first picture you posted. That's a sign of a rooster. The crest isn't round and poofy either. Hens usually have round crests whereas roosters have "slicked back" crests. Maybe post in a few more weeks. Sorry I couldn't help you. You could see if anyone on the Silkie sexing thread knows.

Ah ok thanks! he/she is also a bit wet so the lack of poofy crest could have something to do with that!

 

[moomoodiddy]

Though I'd tell everyone that my test run for my Sex Linked Silkie project was a success. Despite coccidiosis issues this year that took out a lot of my chicks over just a few days time, I managed to save five of the chicks I hatched from my breeding pair (Cuckoo sizzle hen, carrier of the Silkie gene, and a Red Partridge Silkie cock). I made determinations of sex based on beak and skin color at one day of age and as they've matured I've found accuracy to be 100%. I was unable to sex by the color of the down on the head, like I had expected to; it was all rather muddled gray and the crest tended to distort the spot to the point where it was hard to distinguish. However, their beaks were my saving grace; thank the Barring gene for its tendency to lighten skin. All of the females showed a pure black beak; males had a light gray and white one. Males also had lighter skin. Here they are now, at approximately 12 weeks of age. (Or thereabouts. My hatching records have disappeared into my desk drawers... somewhere).

Cockerels:




Pullets:

I love cuckoo silkies. It is usually really easy for me to be able to tell their genders from a young age.

 

[chickchick56]

What is a cuckoo silkie??

 

[moomoodiddy]

What is a cuckoo silkie??

silkies that have barring in their feathers like the cockerel pictured above.