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Silkie thread!
- Thread starter americana-chick
- Start date
thanks for posting those cute pics! Nothing cuter than a hen with her babies
Quote:
I would not buy hatchery silkies. When you do start raising nicer ones, the lesser quality ones will be breeding too and will dilute your good stock unless you keep them permanently separated. I would recommend you find a local silkie breeder or find a nearby chicken swap event and get better ones to start with (at least Breeder quality if not show quality potentials). Buying them this way is more economical than you might think. I have paid as little as $3 a chick for good breeder quality silkies at the swaps. I have bought show quality young (unsexed) silkies for $10-25. You will have the same investment of time, space and feed in poor ones or good ones. Both will go broody when they are old enough. The difference is, if you start with good ones, you reproduce good ones quicker and save a lot of time improving your breeding stock. You don't have to get $100 Show Quality adults to start off.....mine were much less, yet I have some very nice show quality silkies. It's all about finding good breeders who sell young ones for less money and teach you how to choose good stock to begin with.
Where does one even begin looking for chick swaps. I'd like to get at least a better roo. I love my splash, but I would love to take them to show eventually.
I would not buy hatchery silkies. When you do start raising nicer ones, the lesser quality ones will be breeding too and will dilute your good stock unless you keep them permanently separated. I would recommend you find a local silkie breeder or find a nearby chicken swap event and get better ones to start with (at least Breeder quality if not show quality potentials). Buying them this way is more economical than you might think. I have paid as little as $3 a chick for good breeder quality silkies at the swaps. I have bought show quality young (unsexed) silkies for $10-25. You will have the same investment of time, space and feed in poor ones or good ones. Both will go broody when they are old enough. The difference is, if you start with good ones, you reproduce good ones quicker and save a lot of time improving your breeding stock. You don't have to get $100 Show Quality adults to start off.....mine were much less, yet I have some very nice show quality silkies. It's all about finding good breeders who sell young ones for less money and teach you how to choose good stock to begin with.
Where does one even begin looking for chick swaps. I'd like to get at least a better roo. I love my splash, but I would love to take them to show eventually.
awwwwwwwwwwww baby silkies with their momma so cute
Just had to say, my 7 year old plays ball, and his team is not the best. Sometimes they never score. I tell him what counts is "If you had fun, you won." Point being if what you are doing makes you happy, by all means keep on doing it. And silkies make me happy. CCK
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edited due to content.
edited due to content.
Quote:
I would not buy hatchery silkies. When you do start raising nicer ones, the lesser quality ones will be breeding too and will dilute your good stock unless you keep them permanently separated. I would recommend you find a local silkie breeder or find a nearby chicken swap event and get better ones to start with (at least Breeder quality if not show quality potentials). Buying them this way is more economical than you might think. I have paid as little as $3 a chick for good breeder quality silkies at the swaps. I have bought show quality young (unsexed) silkies for $10-25. You will have the same investment of time, space and feed in poor ones or good ones. Both will go broody when they are old enough. The difference is, if you start with good ones, you reproduce good ones quicker and save a lot of time improving your breeding stock. You don't have to get $100 Show Quality adults to start off.....mine were much less, yet I have some very nice show quality silkies. It's all about finding good breeders who sell young ones for less money and teach you how to choose good stock to begin with.
Where does one even begin looking for chick swaps. I'd like to get at least a better roo. I love my splash, but I would love to take them to show eventually.
Go to the blue bar at the top of the page, hit "Search" and type in "Swaps and shows". Somewhere there is a thread that lists all the shows in your state. Also the American Silkie Bantam Club has a list of all the regional leaders. You could call yours and ask what's close by. Check with your local feed stores and Tractor Supply co. One of them probably holds a monthly swap and can give you the details.
I would not buy hatchery silkies. When you do start raising nicer ones, the lesser quality ones will be breeding too and will dilute your good stock unless you keep them permanently separated. I would recommend you find a local silkie breeder or find a nearby chicken swap event and get better ones to start with (at least Breeder quality if not show quality potentials). Buying them this way is more economical than you might think. I have paid as little as $3 a chick for good breeder quality silkies at the swaps. I have bought show quality young (unsexed) silkies for $10-25. You will have the same investment of time, space and feed in poor ones or good ones. Both will go broody when they are old enough. The difference is, if you start with good ones, you reproduce good ones quicker and save a lot of time improving your breeding stock. You don't have to get $100 Show Quality adults to start off.....mine were much less, yet I have some very nice show quality silkies. It's all about finding good breeders who sell young ones for less money and teach you how to choose good stock to begin with.
Where does one even begin looking for chick swaps. I'd like to get at least a better roo. I love my splash, but I would love to take them to show eventually.
Go to the blue bar at the top of the page, hit "Search" and type in "Swaps and shows". Somewhere there is a thread that lists all the shows in your state. Also the American Silkie Bantam Club has a list of all the regional leaders. You could call yours and ask what's close by. Check with your local feed stores and Tractor Supply co. One of them probably holds a monthly swap and can give you the details.
Can I join all you Silkie lovers? I have my first ever silkies, and I cannot get over the cute! I know mine are probably terrible quality (they came from Cackle), but they'll be pets and possibly therapy animals if they have the personality for it. I got white, blue, and splash, and ended up with one more than I ordered. I looooove them.
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Awww I just love baby silkies! Quality or not I think all silkies are sweet as all get out!
Awww I just love baby silkies! Quality or not I think all silkies are sweet as all get out!
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