Silkie thread!

[Lisa Pedro]

Hello,
I am new to Silkies. I have a bantam assortment of 20 chicks that are 2 1/2 weeks old. They are all doing great. The 3 Silkies are such funny little clowns the way they hop at all the others. My question seems a little silly but can Silkies fly? Ever? All the other chicks are sprouting wings and flying up on all the perches, high and low, but the Silkies do not even attempt it even thought the one perch is low enough for them to hit their heads on. 2 of them are the tallest chicks in the flock.
And if they breed with any of the other bantams, will the chicks always have a Silkie coat? Just wondering. Thank you.

 

[RawrOsaur200]

Definitely bad and it would be a DQ. Once you breed a bird in that has this fault, it is HARD to breed away from it. This happens to be one of those genes that sticks around, as it's unlikely offspring will have good wings. So then you've started another line of birds with faults that can't be shown or that follow the standard. A bird with split wing would not be a breeder or show-- but simply a Pet quality, which means NO breeding.

And when selling these birds, be honest and up front with what you are selling. I am listing all faults on my culls before anyone buys them. I don't want anyone to feel taken.

A good wing looks like a fan. Here's another link:http://www.hattricksilkies.net/articles_split_wing.html Split wing is a good sized gap in the feathers. It is hereditary and good winged chicken can carry it. It causes no problem for the bird. It's just not a show quality trait and if you breed them they keep passing it on. It's almost impossible to breed out.

Oh ok!! thank you guys very much!! Im not a breeder nor am i planning on showing but rather have as pets.I just wanted to know if it will affect the bird at all and you guys answered that perfectly!Thank you!!You guys are great help!

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
No matter how much I try to deny this truth and look for other determining behaviors or physical indicators, I'm afraid this is true. These are my first Silkies and at 6 weeks old they have me completely mystified no matter how closely I observe them! I feel like I'm in a holding pattern here - I can't name anyone anything too gender specific, can't determine who I can or cannot hold onto, etc.

I do hope my little vaulted skull lavender is a girl though. My DD who has been studying over in Italy this summer saw photos of the chicks on Facebook and said, "I'm keeping this one" when she saw the Lavender's photo. I told her she could name her when she got home this next week and she said, "I'm naming her Lucille after Lucille Ball because of the poofy thing on her head'.
Oh please Lucille - be a girl!

 

[RawrOsaur200]

VERY BEAUTIFUL!

 

[peepblessed]

No matter how much I try to deny this truth and look for other determining behaviors or physical indicators, I'm afraid this is true. These are my first Silkies and at 6 weeks old they have me completely mystified no matter how closely I observe them! I feel like I'm in a holding pattern here - I can't name anyone anything too gender specific, can't determine who I can or cannot hold onto, etc.

I do hope my little vaulted skull lavender is a girl though. My DD who has been studying over in Italy this summer saw photos of the chicks on Facebook and said, "I'm keeping this one" when she saw the Lavender's photo. I told her she could name her when she got home this next week and she said, "I'm naming her Lucille after Lucille Ball because of the poofy thing on her head'.
Oh please Lucille - be a girl!

Beautiful chick!! Way too young to sex.

 

[chitown chicks]

way too young? way too cute!

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
Oh yeah, I know. This photo was taken when she was only 3 weeks old, but she's still just 6 weeks now. This pic was just to illustrate her "Lucille Ball do" which was new to my DD. I'm going to quit stressing over gender and just enjoy them for them for their individual sweet little personalities for the time being.

 

[peepblessed]

Hello,
I am new to Silkies. I have a bantam assortment of 20 chicks that are 2 1/2 weeks old. They are all doing great. The 3 Silkies are such funny little clowns the way they hop at all the others. My question seems a little silly but can Silkies fly? Ever? All the other chicks are sprouting wings and flying up on all the perches, high and low, but the Silkies do not even attempt it even thought the one perch is low enough for them to hit their heads on. 2 of them are the tallest chicks in the flock.
And if they breed with any of the other bantams, will the chicks always have a Silkie coat? Just wondering. Thank you.

Mostly you will hear that silkies can't fly at all but the harder their primary feathers are (which is not desireable in a silkie) the more they can fly a couple of feet off the ground or more. Ideally the primary feathers should be somewhat shreaded which isn't the best kind of feather for catching air. Most silkies don't roost. They prefer to sleep in a pile on the floor. In my grow out pen, I have about a doz. juveniles age 7 wks to 6 months. There are low tree limbs for them to play on (which they do) and milk grates for them to jump on but at bed time they all end up in one big pile on the floor.

 

[peepblessed]

Oh yeah, I know. This photo was taken when she was only 3 weeks old, but she's still just 6 weeks now. This pic was just to illustrate her "Lucille Ball do" which was new to my DD. I'm going to quit stressing over gender and just enjoy them for them for their individual sweet little personalities for the time being.

I didn't think she looked 6 weeks. I start getting some hints in behavior around 8-9 wks. and start some serious guessing at 10 weeks. At 3 months I'm usually pretty close to right.

 

[peepblessed]

Hello,
I am new to Silkies. I have a bantam assortment of 20 chicks that are 2 1/2 weeks old. They are all doing great. The 3 Silkies are such funny little clowns the way they hop at all the others. My question seems a little silly but can Silkies fly? Ever? All the other chicks are sprouting wings and flying up on all the perches, high and low, but the Silkies do not even attempt it even thought the one perch is low enough for them to hit their heads on. 2 of them are the tallest chicks in the flock.
And if they breed with any of the other bantams, will the chicks always have a Silkie coat? Just wondering. Thank you.

I forgot to answer your other question. If you cross breed you will have very little silkie feathers.