Silkie thread!

[Kaelinstorm]

Quote:
The colour of the comb doesnt have anything to do with the gender but Silkie standards do say that the comb should be a dark mulberry colour. Not red. If its a pink red it wont change that dramatically to the correct color. Do you have a picture?

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
Silkies combs aren't supposed to be red, in breeding and showings its a defect, silkies should have dark mulberry skin and comb/wattles. Thats probably what other people were trying to say...however red/reddish combs are readily seen in hatchery stock of any color along with the wrong comb... but even in good stock and breeders in Reds, buffs, cuckoo, and paints. So yeah you do definately see the red combs

however what color is the chicken? also pictures are much better to say. really without a picture we can't tell you anything

I've heard of folks with silkies who up till 10 months didn't know if it was a boy or a girl.

so they can be tricky. I have a friend who had a pullet who crowed a few times and she swore the chicken was a cockerel...till she laid an egg... Silkies are extremely funny and difficult to sex!

 

[Debbienmousey]

Quote:
LOL.... I thought only my weirdo's did those Ninja kicks! It must be a silkie thing! LOL

One of my girls does it too!

I don't think any of my Silkies have done that yet, but my gosh I have a couple banty hens that will really freak if you get near their babies. Not to mention the guinea hens, now THOSE are fierce mothers! The Silkies certainly have huge personalities LOL.

ETA: Also, is it common for Buffs to have white/gray feathers in the tail? My Buff boy has some tail feathers that color along with the buff. And I've been wondering about comb color also..How dark are they really supposed to be? What does mulberry exactly look like? Should they be about as dark as the skin? Or is it more a purpleish color? Could someone post some nice pics of what color the comb/wattle should be, please? (close ups preferred

)

 

[navasima]

Thanks for your responses.

Jo is definitely a PQ Silkie

. I'm told porcelain. When I say "red" , I guess I do mean mulberry or burgundy. Certainly not red like my cochin roo!

I guess my real question is: Do combs change color because of age or gender...or can it be bird specific?

Kaelinstorm: You wrote that it's not gender specific - thanks for that.

Scared of Shadows: Tricky seems to be an understatement!

As I'm not looking to breed, but just have some fun cuties, I'm really enjoying these little guys. I have 2 Silkie hens; splash and buff, who are the biggest brats going! ..an ya - Jo's comb by comparison - smaller than one, larger than the other!

{I have 2 blue and 2 splash - 3 week olds in the brooder now - have resigned myself to spending months guessing gender! I was thinking of naming them: Pat, Chris, Max and Toni

}

 

[bhazell123]

well i checked my silky eggs i had in the bator and well none are gonna be babies :'( so bummed hoped to have atleast one white one :'(

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
lol yep they are too funny I love my silkies. I have some that are so sweet but definately proverbial blondes, then I have some that are real snots and the bosses of the whole yard when everyone free ranges together.

Coloring up into a more noticeable color like a ripe poke berry - is probably a rooster...BUT do not hold me to it! lol most my hens' combs stay about the same color, just get a bit bigger as they hit maturity. I do have one girl that is a PQ that her comb has a reddish tint to it similar to my boys, but she is a light bleach blonde shade of buff.

I do the unisex names as well, definately makes it easier. or I make it a two part name - like Snow White so I can drop the last part and switch so now the white girl we thought was snow white, is now actually the Snow Prince.

 

[gambit2178]

Now it's the turn for my loyal and dominat Black Silkies. All hens...

 

[gambit2178]

Following the Black Silkies it's no other than AOV Silkies..

 

[silkielover5]

i need your opinion. hes for sale near me on craigslist from a breeder for $20. i dont really do buffs but he looks pretty nice. he doesnt have black on his tail which i know is common with the buff silkies. should i get him or not. i dont really want to spend money on a rooster that i dont have buff hens for. but in the spring im ordering ALOT of eggs so there is always the chance ill get some buffs and i dont want a good deal to pass. i would probley offer $15 for him

 

[muddyhorse]

he looks pretty good for $20. check his toes. it is hard to get a good clear buff with a dark comb, they tend to be red