Silkie thread!

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
Very cute picture!!! Both boys are gorgeous!

THAT should be on a calendar, the Chicken Barons expression says it all

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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^^^This

Just wondering if anyone knows why they are getting bigger? I understand it can be due to different lines in the genes but how are they getting bigger if originally they were all more of the bantam size. It seems I am getting both and I did start with different lines but some are hatching larger and some are more petite.

Birds with longer featehrs, but the same body size LOOK larger. There is a huge size difference between the smallest and largest bantams, and most of the larger breeds of bantams do not fit well through the doors of the smallest bantam show cages, either. I have seen pigeon cages used for bantams before, too.

All that said, some (many) judges tend to pick larger birds, and therefore some breeders take that into account in their selections. I have always contended that shows should have a scale on hand for protests (or if an exhibitor wants to weigh their own bird).

edited to add: Time of year when they are hatched (all breeds) can cause ultimate size variation--there are scientific studies on this--spring hatched birds develop to be larger than their fall hatched siblings. My opinion is that this would likely vary somewhat based upon the climate one lives in, a more temperate climate having less difference than a climate with more extremes.

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
Just wondering if anyone knows why they are getting bigger? I understand it can be due to different lines in the genes but how are they getting bigger if originally they were all more of the bantam size. It seems I am getting both and I did start with different lines but some are hatching larger and some are more petite.

Birds with longer featehrs, but the same body size LOOK larger. There is a huge size difference between the smallest and largest bantams, and most of the larger breeds of bantams do not fit well through the doors of the smallest bantam show cages, either. I have seen pigeon cages used for bantams before, too.

All that said, some (many) judges tend to pick larger birds, and therefore some breeders take that into account in their selections. I have always contended that shows should have a scale on hand for protests (or if an exhibitor wants to weigh their own bird).

edited to add: Time of year when they are hatched (all breeds) can cause ultimate size variation--there are scientific studies on this--spring hatched birds develop to be larger than their fall hatched siblings. My opinion is that this would likely vary somewhat based upon the climate one lives in, a more temperate climate having less difference than a climate with more extremes.

Thank you! That is quite interesting regarding the time of year of the hatches. It does make sense that the spring hatched birds would be larger due to more food available if free ranging.

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
Birds with longer featehrs, but the same body size LOOK larger. There is a huge size difference between the smallest and largest bantams, and most of the larger breeds of bantams do not fit well through the doors of the smallest bantam show cages, either. I have seen pigeon cages used for bantams before, too.

All that said, some (many) judges tend to pick larger birds, and therefore some breeders take that into account in their selections. I have always contended that shows should have a scale on hand for protests (or if an exhibitor wants to weigh their own bird).

edited to add: Time of year when they are hatched (all breeds) can cause ultimate size variation--there are scientific studies on this--spring hatched birds develop to be larger than their fall hatched siblings. My opinion is that this would likely vary somewhat based upon the climate one lives in, a more temperate climate having less difference than a climate with more extremes.

Thank you! That is quite interesting regarding the time of year of the hatches. It does make sense that the spring hatched birds would be larger due to more food available if free ranging.

i breed all year round and my bird are no bigger in the winter then they are in the summer

 

[NewToFarming]

My smallest girls were hatched last late September through December and I have a couple of young girls hatched this june through august that just as big or bigger than last years girls. I am going to keep an eye of this and see how it goes.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

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I've noticed that they tend to be bigger from spring hatches, than fall/winter...but do you keep yours in temperature controlled areas all year? if so, thats why you don't see any size difference, they are kept the same year round.

 

[chickendales]

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i well say my chicks hatched in warmer weather do grow faster but the end resalts the same

 

[chickendales]

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I've noticed that they tend to be bigger from spring hatches, than fall/winter...but do you keep yours in temperature controlled areas all year? if so, thats why you don't see any size difference, they are kept the same year round.

just my chicks are kept in a tempeture comtroled area

 

[chikincrazee]

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Very cute picture!!! Both boys are gorgeous!

Thanks..hey how do you like Georgia and what area did you move to...im thinking i might want to move there eventually for more moderate temps...

 

[chikincrazee]

Quote:
Very cute picture!!! Both boys are gorgeous!

THAT should be on a calendar, the Chicken Barons expression says it all

Thanks both are quite the photo hams....the splash cockerel is only about 5-6 mos old and hes quite a looker already..the other is going to be 12..lol