Silkie thread!

[Brody's Broodello]

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Correction, the middle toe should be fully feathered on the outside only.

So I'm overzealous with my toe feathers!

From the APA SOP:
LEGS AND TOES
...the outer and middle toe well feathered. Female same as male but no spur. (Bare middle toe is a serious defect in either sex.)
Also from SOP: Each bare middle toe is a 2 point cut.

The SHANKS need to be fully feathered on the outside or is a DQ.

Heavy foot feathering is ideal. What I was trying explain, because some breeds have feathering on both sides of the middle toe and if you are coming from one of those you might not understand, is that the middle toe should have feathering on top and down the outerside of the toe. The inside of the middle toe should not have feathers growing out of it. As far as the 4th & 5th toe, this was a discusion on the ASBC website last year, one shower was DQ'd for those being feathered. After checking with breeders on there,as well as judges, it was decided,by those on the thread, that there was no ruling on those being feathered, but is up to the judge on that day.

 

[scbatz33]

Brody's Broodello :

Quote:
So I'm overzealous with my toe feathers!

From the APA SOP:
LEGS AND TOES
...the outer and middle toe well feathered. Female same as male but no spur. (Bare middle toe is a serious defect in either sex.)
Also from SOP: Each bare middle toe is a 2 point cut.

The SHANKS need to be fully feathered on the outside or is a DQ.

Heavy foot feathering is ideal. What I was trying explain, because some breeds have feathering on both sides of the middle toe and if you are coming from one of those you might not understand, is that the middle toe should have feathering on top and down the outerside of the toe. The inside of the middle toe should not have feathers growing out of it. As far as the 4th & 5th toe, this was a discusion on the ASBC website last year, one shower was DQ'd for those being feathered. After checking with breeders on there,as well as judges, it was decided,by those on the thread, that there was no ruling on those being feathered, but is up to the judge on that day.​

I'm actually coming from a "no feather foot/leg" back ground. Orps with feathered legs are generally referred to as cochins! LOL

ANyway, I'm trying to figure out what's good and what's not so good. I am interested in showing first, then breeding. Therefore, I need to know not so much what someone likes to see as what the standard says is acceptable or not. The postings of the SOP I've seen are vague in certain respects.

 

[scbatz33]

second question then: is the "sides" determined by a split right down the middle? If so then any feathering on the "wrong" side of that center line would be points lost or DQ?

Some of these chick's feathering is all over!

 

[AprilKY]

Colie <3 :

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The girls...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/fo...0254289034540_715824539_8733622_7072269_n.jpg

Awww that's adorable!! Both of them are gorgeous! I see you're from Kentucky what part? Why oh why wasn't I into Silkies when I lived in KY??

I need to start a far west TX silkie revolution so I have more breeders/enthusiasts near me!​

Thx! I live in Central Ky near Lexington. I got my girls from a local breeder/shower of silkies. His birds are so healthy and docile. He truly represents the breed well!

 

[AprilKY]

So, on another note, I have a silkie who decided to start setting three days ago. That is normal, but the cute/funny part is this...she is setting on Giant Jersey eggs. Within a few weeks of hatching I have a feeling the babies will be thise of mommy. lol

 

[Brody's Broodello]

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The feathering should be on top, but the side of the middle toe(the side facing the extra 4th & 5th toes)should not be feathered. Most silkies do not have any problem with this. The real problem is little to no feathering on the top of the middle toe, to completely bare.

A lot of birds appear to have heavy feathering but in reality only have a few large feathers on the toe. When these are in full, the foot looks well feathered, but should one feather fall out, you see how lightly feathered the bird really is.Ideally there should be multiple feathers going down the middle toe. I have bed & sold birds with what I call lightly feathered, go on to show with their new families and win. But I am always looking at the chicks to see what will improve the line, ie the chick must be better than their parents to stay & pass on their genes.

On that note, I have seen many people ask what is Breeder Q Vs Show Q. I think that depends on what one person wants to do with their flock. In my flock, our goal is to show, so if the bird can not go to the show and win against good company, I do not keep it for breeding. So my BQ, is anothers SQ. We strive to win at shows, and if the bird cannot win at least BV against more than a handful of birds, then I will not keep it. Would love to hear how others determine the quality scale when grading their birds?

 

[Beth G.]

Oh they are sooo sooo cute!!! Your a lucky Silkie owner

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[muddyhorse]

I have hatched alot of babies this season but I think this one is my favorite little girl

 

[Teresaann24]

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Super cute what color is it from? Blue?

 

[kfchickenlady]

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what a little cutie!