Silkie thread!

[racuda]

Just thought I would toss in my pictures of my silkies. Any idea on colors???

White, splash and buff for sure. The dark ones look blue, but because they are in direct sun, and are somewhat washed out, they could be black.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Gracious... What a trip! A two hour drive in the end!

Yes! LOL!! Wow, aren't we crazy?? The things we will do for our birds!

 

[CALI CHICK]

I love the very white splash with black feathers. I call them the "poor man's paint". Tehe! Here's one of mine at 6 weeks. It was born snow white and didn't get any spots for over 3 wks. Then they came in black. It's 12 wks. now and hundreds of spots.

Awww, what a sweetie. I also had 4 splash babies hatch completely white. I was kind of worried for the first few weeks that maybe they were accidently from the white silkie pen. When they started getting their "splash" coloring in, they quickly became everyone's favorites (even my DH who usually just puts up with my chicken obsession).

Here's a baby picture of my BBS hatchlings. Notice, not a spot on the four splash in the center! I'll have to post a new photo of the 4 splash-they look so different.

By the way, Peeps Blessed, notice "Fluffy" on the left side who became my "partridge". I really need to get a new picture of her (Well, she seems like a "her"). She is getting so many brown feathers, that we changed her name to Cinnamuffin!

 

[JoshU]

Here's a baby picture of my BBS hatchlings. Notice, not a spot on the four splash in the center! I'll have to post a new photo of the 4 splash-they look so different.

By the way, Peeps Blessed, notice "Fluffy" on the left side who became my "partridge". I really need to get a new picture of her (Well, she seems like a "her"). She is getting so many brown feathers, that we changed her name to Cinnamuffin!

I have to get one of those blankets before I post any more pics. That makes them stand out so well. Really Cool!!

 

[littlecritters]

Can someone please share a link to a lab that does DNA sex testing on birds? I have a wc blue polish chick hatched on Mothers Day, which is crowing but looks like a pullet not a cockerel. Check out this cute video of the "crowing".

Here are some pics... post # 1885---> https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/585953/i-have-to-talk-polish/1880
There are more recent pics in the last day or so on the polish thread. I have found a home for this chick if it turns out to be a boy, but we would really like it to be a girl...Tina G.

 

[JoshU]

Can someone please share a link to a lab that does DNA sex testing on birds? I have a wc blue polish chick hatched on Mothers Day, which is crowing but looks like a pullet not a cockerel. Check out this cute video of the "crowing".

Here are some pics... post # 1885---> https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/585953/i-have-to-talk-polish/1880
There are more recent pics in the last day or so on the polish thread. I have found a home for this chick if it turns out to be a boy, but we would really like it to be a girl...Tina G.

That was a crow but a weak one. In the next couple weeks you will be able to tell if that is a roo or hen. DNA testing has to be pretty expensive. I would just wait and see. Could be the beginning of learning to crow from a roo or a hen trying to be the dominant bird of the flock if no other roos in the bunch. It shouldnt take too long to figure it out naturally. Breeding is usually not long after the crowing begins if its a roo.

 

[Basel]

Can someone please share a link to a lab that does DNA sex testing on birds?

You can google for labs that do avian DNA testing. It's pretty common actually [vets do it for ppl with parrots etc.]. It's about $15 - $20 about so amazingly not expensive. The lab will send you everything you need.

 

[Adoravachick]

Thanks to this thread I have been able to see MANY pictures of so many different birds. I see my chicks in a completely new way than I did our first silkie chicks. Some of my chicks look very masculine looking and others are so dainty and feminine looking. It will be fun to see if my guesses are right!

 

[Adoravachick]

we were talking about Pullorum/Typhoid testing and NPIP a few weeks back. I just recently had my birds tested. (all turned out clean!) I figured I would post pictures of the event. We had a clinic available for us to bring our birds to-- so it wasnt fun dragging a bunch of birds an hour away, but at least it got done and I have a certificate for now. Will be going for full NPIP soon!

The first thing they do is pull a few feathers from the INSIDE of the wing and then pat it a bit and find a good vein. Then they prick it to draw blood, use a tool that scoops up a bit of blood and then rub the blood on a sheet of glass where they drop in the serum that will check for the disease. The second thing they do is put a long swab down your chicken's throat and swab the throat. It's not very pleasant, but it's good to have it done. The testing must be renewed once a year.

Oh-- and I'm the person wearing that insanely bright orange shirt.

LOL! (my son is in the dark blue shirt and the Vet is the guy in the purple shirt with the Wildcat ballcap-- a vet tech is next to him)

I had asked about this a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much for posting the pics and letting us know what we can expect when we decide to get our NPIP certification. At what age is the bird considered "adult"? What age can a bird be shown? Again, thanks for sharing, it was very informative.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Can someone please share a link to a lab that does DNA sex testing on birds? I have a wc blue polish chick hatched on Mothers Day, which is crowing but looks like a pullet not a cockerel. Check out this cute video of the "crowing".

Here are some pics... post # 1885---> https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/585953/i-have-to-talk-polish/1880
There are more recent pics in the last day or so on the polish thread. I have found a home for this chick if it turns out to be a boy, but we would really like it to be a girl...Tina G.

I raise WCB polish, and the crest on that bird looks like a girl to me. That is a pretty poor excuse for a crow, too. I don't know. I would have said girl for sure based on that crest. The boys usually look more punk rock. Did you say you had a more recent picture of the bird's crest? PLUS-- that bird is only 5 weeks?? I know crests can change a lot as they get older... I just would be hesitant to make any kind of guess, but polish are a LOT easier to sex than silkies! I'm lazy, I looked at the link you posted for pictures but when I didn't see your bird, I didn't want to go searching thru pages. To make it easier, it would be awesome if you could just post the pictures here.

I had asked about this a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much for posting the pics and letting us know what we can expect when we decide to get our NPIP certification. At what age is the bird considered "adult"? What age can a bird be shown? Again, thanks for sharing, it was very informative.

You can test birds 4 months and up. Also, you can show birds at 4 months, too. However, if you're going to do so, just keep in mind that you are competing against older birds that are likely to be more filled out and in better show condition. But there is nothing wrong with taking a younger bird that is close to being filled out. Just keep in mind that you need to be as close to SOP as possible, and you're good. (standard of perfection) I'm taking a young bird this week, and honestly, it's young enough that I doubt it will compete well, but I'm just wanting a good opinion on it so I can decide if I'm going to keep it or not. I'm sure my adults will do much better.

oh-- and adult is usually considered 6 months and above and at sexual maturity. (laying eggs or breeding)