Silkie thread!

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
I need one of them broodies

 

[Teresaann24]

I have a calico/gray project going I don't have new pics yet but its coming along well here is a pic of one of the younger pullets she has grown a little more since then and has more of this dark red color on her.

This is the young roo I kept he is also a little older now and showing more of the dark red.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
grey is not 'technically' a project color. It is in the standard. The grey with autosomal red (some people are calling it calico, others call calico a splash with red, etc) is not.

 

[Teresaann24]

Quote:
grey is not 'technically' a project color. It is in the standard. The grey with autosomal red (some people are calling it calico, others call calico a splash with red, etc) is not.

So would mine just be gray showing alot of the autossomal red?

 

[ModernGameGrl]

I was wondering how beards inherit in silkies? Is it just a simple recessive or dominant gene? I have a roo who's not bearded but some of my hens are and just curious what to expect.

 

[destiny_56085]

The genes are codominant. You will most likey get offspring with sparse beards. It can be anywhere in between non bearded and bearded though.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
grey is not 'technically' a project color. It is in the standard. The grey with autosomal red (some people are calling it calico, others call calico a splash with red, etc) is not.

So would mine just be gray showing alot of the autossomal red?

Yuppers. Appears so.

 

[TK Poultry]

At what age should you start the culling process? I have some babies that I probably should go through.

 

[QualityPolish]

You're going to cull a silkie!!!!! Shun. You never cull silkies.
QP

 

[ultasol]

You never cull silkies? What, are you supposed to keep a zillion cockerels and get overcrowded. I've culled through selling, and I've culled through making them into dinner. As long as they don't go to waste (I never kill and toss unless a bird is ill or it is a deformed chick) I consider it fine.

Sorry, it's part of being a breeder.

It's not fun, but it leads to improvement in the flock. I prefer to sell, but I always end up with extra boys that don't make the cut. I could try to find an auction to send them to, but the end would almost certainly be the same. At least I know I handle them humanely, they don't get stressed, they don't travel.