Silkie thread!

[chickendales]

Quote:
Technically you can breed him to whatever you want to. He looks like a crossed up mutt though. Red skin, single comb, non-standard color....

is comb is not single and itsnt red it not dark as i like but it not red

 

[destiny_56085]

I wasn't talking about the cuckoo rooster. This is the Columbian lookalike. It definitely isn't even up to the standard 'mulberry' and the comb shape is not walnut. Looks kind of like a single comb that was either dubbed or had the points frozen off.

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
the comb is not single and itsnt red it not dark as i like but it not red
not perfect bird but a start

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:

 

[destiny_56085]

This is the ABA standard for a walnut comb:
COMB: Walnut - set firmly and evenly on head, almost circular in shape, preferably broader than longer, with a number of small prominences over it, a slight indentation of furrow, transversely across the middle, rising at a point just forward of the nostrils and extending backwards to a point parallel with front of eyes.


Just this last fall I saw Eric Kutch disqualify a really awesome white with a comb like that. He's one of the top silkie judges in the nation. This hen had a huge crest and he even peeled it back to show us WHY he DQ'd her. It was the same as that 'columbian' , not a definite blade like on a leghorn, but a rounded one. He still called it a single comb.

 

[destiny_56085]

Quote:

She is absolutely gorgeous!!! Beautiful type, soft feathering, tight wings, short round body, nice crest. The best part about her is the color. Nice deep coloration and not that washed out, faded look that you see on alot of them lately.

 

[chickendales]

not best pic but only one the breeder has this extra rooster pen

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I love the middle Silkie roo..his coloring is interesting.

 

[chickendales]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Quote:
I love the middle Silkie roo..his coloring is interesting.

there another pix him on othere page​

 

[Colie <3]

Quote:
Edit to say: If this is a plan for a trio then I then it's spectacular!

Size wise IMO the coop and run would fit 8 max of bantams. The run would be 4 sq ft per bantam and the coop area would give you 2 sq ft per. I've heard about people using 1.5 sq ft of coop space per bantam but unless you're run was over sized or they would be spending a lot of time free around your yard I wouldn't even try more than 8. Just my .02

Those numbers are for small bantams; Silkies are at the large end of the spectrum, and should have 7 sq ft per bird minimum of run space. Depending on climate where one lives, and the amount of time that the birds may end up confined to the coop should be the primary consideration on its size. For birds that do nothing but sleep in hte coop, and have access to additional space almost all the time, minimal coop space is needed, for areas with severe winters or rain conditions that keep the birds confined to the coop fairly often during the days, they need more space there.

I didn't even think of the weather aspect, good points

I live in Texas far far west in the desert so I kinda forget that other people have cruddy weather a lot more than we do. Right now it's been in the high 70's low 80's so lots of outside time.

I won't be so happy once the hot weather hits though it's miserable here!
I'm planning for 3-4 sq ft per silkie of coop space but I have decently large runs for them and a 85 sq ft movable run that I plan to alternate days for my color groups to enjoy. Oh and and an ok sized yard for them to free-range in (under supervision though because I'm scared of hawks!) The plan is to watch how they tolerate the space issue and then adjust flock size accordingly. Sound ok?
Any tips on keeping cool in the summer? My coop builder maximized the ventilation options on my coops but I'm sure there are other things I can do right?