Silkie thread!

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
Would depend on the genes behind the parents. Let's say your black has Lav in the background, or there is splash in the mix. You would not really know until you breb them. But from what I have had here, you most likely will get Blue closer to mom's color. Your best bet would be to take her to a Splash or Lighter Blue to lighten the offspring. The problem with breeding the "darker" blue is that most people cannot tell the differnce between black & blue in that darker phase. A good way to tell is if your "black" has a slightly lighter under color on it's bum, it is a blue. A black will have black or darker brown looking under color on the bum. Brown being from staining from the potty! Once they are washed up it is brown again. Don't want to confuse anyone to think it is a "chocolate" when it is just dirt.

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

The gal who is giving them to me breeds for show and these 2 birds are not show quality. One has a toe that is weird and the other has a beak that is curved too much or something. I had to promise I wouldnt breed them (I have no intention of breeding ANYTHING. I just want eggs but these were too cute to resist!) I DO want to be able to care for them correctly though so I thought I better read up to see if I have to give baths or something. I love love love the photos! My other chickies will be 3 weeks old when I go to get the silkies.

 

[joe17]

Quote:
What does she really mean by not breeding? Its a shame if you can't atleast hatch only a few chicks! They are awesome to raise! Silkies go broody often and will try to hatch eggs on their own. As long as they arent deformed, it wouldnt do that much harm to breed them just to get more pets! haha

 

[joe17]

I have a BUNCH more pictures too!

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Brody's Broodello :

Quote:
Would depend on the genes behind the parents. Let's say your black has Lav in the background, or there is splash in the mix. You would not really know until you breb them. But from what I have had here, you most likely will get Blue closer to mom's color. Your best bet would be to take her to a Splash or Lighter Blue to lighten the offspring. The problem with breeding the "darker" blue is that most people cannot tell the differnce between black & blue in that darker phase. A good way to tell is if your "black" has a slightly lighter under color on it's bum, it is a blue. A black will have black or darker brown looking under color on the bum. Brown being from staining from the potty! Once they are washed up it is brown again. Don't want to confuse anyone to think it is a "chocolate" when it is just dirt.

Thank you! Very helpful. I'm almost 100% sure that the male doesn't have Lav in his background. The breeder they were bought from did not own any Lav. Splash is a possibility. The majority of the birds in the breeding pen were blacks, blues, and whites. I'm not sure if the whites were separated in all honesty? However, I did have the opportunity to see the female's (blue's) father...and guess what? VERY dark blue. Just like her. I hope my male's genes can make a difference because it gets annoying having to correct people when they mistake my girl for another black. She does have the significant lighter coloring on her bum, that's how one can tell. As of now, any ambition I have to 'breed' would be mostly to play the 'let's see what I get' game.​

 

[Luvducks]

Quote:
What does she really mean by not breeding? Its a shame if you can't atleast hatch only a few chicks! They are awesome to raise! Silkies go broody often and will try to hatch eggs on their own. As long as they arent deformed, it wouldnt do that much harm to breed them just to get more pets! haha

I hear ya! I breed my Silkie and Cochin for my own pets because I really like this mix. Hatch some and eat the other eggs. This was a Black Silkie Hen and Blue Cochin Roo (SAD, he is no longer with us). These chickens are so calm and Quiet I hardly know they are here!

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

I do read they make good moms. She says they arent deformed...just not good for show and I THINK she might not want me to start some sort of rookie breeding program. I dunno. I just said Id like the free birds and wouldnt breed them. I DO think it would be fun to let that hen be a surrogate to others eggs whem Im ready for some more! You see I DO suffer that chicken math problem. My birds are only 2 weeks old and already I have added these birds and kept one of the 11 extra males sent with my order. Good thing I built a coop big enough for 20 birds cause this will put me at 18. It is 8 x 10 with a huge run so I think we are good to go!

 

[Miss Lydia]

For now....

 

[Egg Rookie 2010]

Lydia...my husband is unaware of this problem. However he saw me on here this morning-and walked away to wait his turn. Then he found me upstairs staring into the brooder box with coffee in hand. Just before we left the house to take son to school he heard me scold the kids for scribbling in my poultry magazine and he burst out laughing calling me a junkie! HMPH!

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:

tell him if you cant beat'em, join'em!