Silkie thread!

[peepblessed]

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Most people who have silkies with the vaulted skulls do not recommend it. My original hatchery silkies did fine but my EE's aren't agressive. I doubt I will risk it with my new silkies.

 

[littlecreekfarm]

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Wonderful additions but one thing I noted is that Malibu needs a beak trimming. It should not stick out that far past the lower beak.

yes i trimmed it. that pic was taken when we got her. thanks

 

[Christie Loves Silkies]

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I love all 3 of them

Thank you! I just seen some of your pictures on Facebook. Rose is a cutie pie.
I think I need to post my new ones on there now.

I have some of thunder on there but I need more

 

[dwegg]

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Yes true...speak to a judge is a good idea...I've actually only ever been to one show and I am not breeding...more for the fun and seeing other people's awesome chickens..thanks everyone...

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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Just because they are at a show, doesn't necessarily mean the are "great" or correct. Even if they win. They might just be all that was entered.

Speaking to the judge is an EXCELLENT idea. I have always found the judges more than happy to talk if approached.

 

[NewToFarming]

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Just because they are at a show, doesn't necessarily mean the are "great" or correct. Even if they win. They might just be all that was entered.

Speaking to the judge is an EXCELLENT idea. I have always found the judges more than happy to talk if approached.

That is true of your smaller shows and if you only see 1 silkie entered into the show, then of course there would be nothing to compare to but if there are a good number entered and you look at the ones that placed and at ones that didn't, it helps with the learning process starting out.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Very cute pictures!! I think silkies are mostly more wimpy than other chickens because when they're all poofy they can't see it coming when other chickens pick on them. If you're raising them all around each other from babies, they would adapt pretty well I would think, but older hens might be too hard on them...

My silkies tend to put them selves at the top of the pecking order--in fact, it is usually the smallest adult silkie who is on top. I've never had a problem putting them with large breeds. Usually the larger breeds are gentler on them than are older silkies (of the same age as the larger breeds). If you are concerned, make a place that little birds can fit into, but larger ones cannot.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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They are all on Purina Start and Grow until the youngest gets to laying age

then I'll change them to layer feed. The oldest just started to get some oyster shell when she wants to eat it - which she hasn't wanted to yet.

what will happen if i put 2 month old silkies in with my laying group and they eat layer

Layer is not good for non-laying birds. It is very hard on their kidneys, and will likely shorten life. Consider giving them all chick starter or gamebird or broiler feed, and giving the older birds free-choice oyster shell (preferably placed a bit higher than the youngster can access.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

sagersilkies :

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He looks like a loved member of the family!!

He's a pretty boy! In the US a fuller crest is desirable and lots of foot feathering. Also rounder body type and cushion. It may be different in Canada. Hope you get some imput from some fellow Canadians!

Hopefully i do but its not lookin like it and ya i love him he's my fav but i love all my birds and in canada we have full crest ones but this one is non berderd​

His type is wrong for a slke--he is much too long and slender. Silkies should be roly poly volleyballs. Short back, wide body, very curvy. Yours has a lovey tail that is nice and wide (and long tail feathers), but unfortunately, the rest of him is not. Even for a non-bearded, he is lacking in crest. I like the statement that he looks like a well-loved member of the family

He is in beautiful condition, and that says much more about your care of him than anything about his "quality" ever could.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Yes. Assuming the parents had correct combs, they were both het. (one copy, not two) for both rose and pea comb genes, and the "lucky" single combed chicks inherited both not-peacomb and not-rosecomb from each parent.

Ok, so they have to inherit that gene from both parents? I'm still confused.... Should I not put these chicks in my breeding group? I am just setting up my initial flock and still trying to figure out all this genetics stuff. I've read a lot about color, toes, black skin ect...... But never thought about a silkie with a single comb! That is not something that I want popping up in my chicks. What are your thoughts? Would you add them to your breeder flock? (btw, the are beautiful bbs babies)

Yes, almost all genes are inherited from both parents. The few that are inherited from only one parent are sex-linked genes. THe common ones are barring, choc and silver/gold. For these genes, males inherit from both parents, females only from their father.

As to whether or not to use them in breeding, there is no clear-cut answer. Single comb is recessive to pea and rose (I could get technical and confues everyone, including myself and say it is epistatic, but I will try to keep it simple). If bred to a correctly combed bird, a good percentage of the offspring should have the correct combs. Even after you have corrected the issue in your breeders, you will still have the occasional single combed bird hatch out.

Combs and toes are relatively easy to deal with. Lack of type is much harder to correct. Wry tail is another nightmare you do not want to deal with. All that said, you pick the best you have, or acquire better if it is available. Some people have easy access to better quality birds--either because they can afford them or happen to live near breeders with good quality birds are, or they have a large enough flock that they can be picky. And others have limited funds or availability to other breeders, and must make the best with what they can acquire.