Silkie thread!

[SadieSue]

Quote:
If it was a very tiny crack, I've used painters tape cut into teeny, tiny strips. That way it pulls off easily

 

[Lady Chickadee]

hey, we have the same incubator! Now that I have mine adjusted correctly, it's working great! I love how easy the Brinsea is.

I love my Brinsea as well! I barely ever have any trouble with the humidity and I never have trouble with the temperature. Its also a great beginner incubator! I've only had four hatches in it but all have gone pretty well. The first and second time I hatched in it the humidity would drop into the 30's during lock down at night but I haven't had that problem with any of my recent hatches.

 

[Katryn]

So nice to see a responsible young person! Is there by chance a young family or retired couple or (?) who you could partner with that could take over when you leave? Also you can have a lot of fun with just one pair of silkies and have plenty of time to find the right home for them before you leave.

That is a wonderful idea! That way I can maybe get one breeding pair and then just find them a good home when I leave. Thank you, much!

 

[peepblessed]

I've gone back about 75 pages to read and check out photos of everyone's beautiful birds. I'm trying to glean as much information as I can now since I'm expecting 9

silkie eggs to hatch in two weeks. I've had a LF flock for just about a year and had decided to hatch Seramas, but while I was at the Pacific Northwest Poultry Show in Stevenson last weekend, I ended up with a dozen Silkie eggs. (Couldn't let all that room in the incubator go to waste with just 12 little Serama eggs you know.

)

So I had seen a breeders birds in the show and asked if she had any eggs available to sell. Fortunately for me she did, and even more fortunate - she happened to have 12 assorted color eggs. I just don't think I could have chosen a favorite color at that exact minute! So far I have paint, blue/splash, porcelain, lavendar and black eggs developing. Just candled this morning and they're looking good!

I'm hoping to get another mini-coop built before my babies go outside. I'm not sure I'll be mixing the silkies with my LF flock except to free range in our suburban back yard. Are there any special considerations I need to keep in mind for their coop and run? Is it true they don't like a tall ramp into the coop because of visibility issues?
Thank you - I have really enjoyed the photos you have shared!

Welcome to the world of silkie obsession! You've got an awesome start in your incubator! Keep in mind that silkies can't see a hawk coming and they can't fly to escape a predator (shredded wings) though I have one that can fly pretty well! Because of the heavy feathering on their feet you want a run that is covered or has sand in it. Silkies in mud is kind of sad. Many people do house LF and silkies together successfully but the vaulted skulled silkies are definitely at risk for a nasty peck. You can train them to use a ramp. I let mine pile on the ground which is what they want to do. Please post pictures of you babies!!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
EVERYTHING is up to each judge. I've seen things DQed that shouldn't be, and things that were not DQed that should. Generally when exhibitors are upset with a judge at a show, it isn't just about one breed, it is about a number of breeds or classes.

You can protest, but it has t be done pretty rapidly, and you have to put up money (returned if found in your favour). It is rare to see it happen.

I think judges are getting pickier about wings. Before the APA National in Shawnee in December 2010 (self-blue qualifying meet) I had never seen wings marked down on cards before--but dang if it wasn't marked on a HUGE number of cards there. And looking at the wings, there were a fair number with problems. Probably not as many as were marked, though.

At the Silkie National in 2005(?) in L.A., every single buff was DQed for having black in wings and/or tail. Mind you these were all mostly clear birds. None had more than a little bit of black.

 

[peepblessed]

I have paint silkie chicks from Twin Maple Ranch hatching right now.

(Sorry, not a very good picture)

That is sooo awesome! I have tried twice and both hatches were unsuccessful.

 

[peepblessed]

That is a wonderful idea! That way I can maybe get one breeding pair and then just find them a good home when I leave. Thank you, much!

I hope you can work it out. Life without silkies would be a lot less smiles.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I htink it is both. Too many people breeding and selling chicks or eggs when they really don't know the standard. I don't have a problem with people who aren't into exhibiting, just want to breed. But they should know the standard, and how their birds measure up quality wise. They need to be breeding to improve the breed, not to make a quick dollar.

 

[peepblessed]

EVERYTHING is up to each judge. I've seen things DQed that shouldn't be, and things that were not DQed that should. Generally when exhibitors are upset with a judge at a show, it isn't just about one breed, it is about a number of breeds or classes.

You can protest, but it has t be done pretty rapidly, and you have to put up money (returned if found in your favour). It is rare to see it happen.

I think judges are getting pickier about wings. Before the APA National in Shawnee in December 2010 (self-blue qualifying meet) I had never seen wings marked down on cards before--but dang if it wasn't marked on a HUGE number of cards there. And looking at the wings, there were a fair number with problems. Probably not as many as were marked, though.

At the Silkie National in 2005(?) in L.A., every single buff was DQed for having black in wings and/or tail. Mind you these were all mostly clear birds. None had more than a little bit of black.

Oh, my! DQed for a tiny bit of black!!! I would love to go to some shows and follow the judges around just to learn. Are you allowed to do that?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm sitting at school thinking about my silkie babe back home. I just want to be back with my chicken! This is more a life question than a chicken question, lol, but what do you all think I should do: I really want to breed chickens, but I'm almost 17 and will be moving away from home in the fall of 2013. I feel like it would be maybe somewhat fruitless to start working with the flock I will obviously be leaving in my parents' backyard and I know that my dad isn't the kind of guy who cares about breeding or breed standards. To him, big chickens are good because they mean big eggs. Besides that, a chicken is a chicken is a chicken. And that's that. However, I probably won't have another chance to work with chickens for years, until after I'm settled down. Being a teenager still, that will probably be a long time from now. What do you think? Breed in my new flock at my parents' and not think about leaving? Or wait?

How far away will you be? Will you be able to (or are you even interested) show? What will you be doing summers and vacations? Is there a place near school that you could board your birds, would you have the time or interest in doing so?