Silkie thread!

[peepblessed]

Whoa! This thread sure moves fast. I just wanted to pop in and share some sad news. Due to my husbands promotion, we are relocating to Illinois. Our new home has a small yard, so no chickens. BUT, there is property behind the house that may be available in the spring. So I may be a proud silkie owner once again. Maybe Santa will bring me a new incubator for Christmas.

I sold my whole flock on craigslist to a nice lady with grandkids. I'm sure they will get plenty of love and attention.

See you next spring.

We will all miss you! Please come by for a visit. So glad you found a good home for your babies.

 

[peepblessed]

The only DQ is improper number of toes. You don't want extra toenails, fused toes, web toes, etc....all I try to avoid.

Short outer toes are as Hawkeye stated brachydactyly... as ABA standards its not a DQ, and a very minor fault in the grand scheme of things...I personally cut those birds out last if at all, as it is not a big deal and simple to get rid of. However I won't breed one that has a SUPER short toe and no nail. if it has a decent length toe, or is somewhat short with a nail, I will keep them to use if they are an otherwise nice bird...

The 5th toe is usually longer(and should be) than the 4th toe and SHOULD kick back in a curve, it shouldn't be straight. but its not a big deal in the grand scheme of things really...

The best feet are spaced nicely, with the 4th and 5th should not be too far from the interior long toe (#3 I guess) The 4th and 5th should be close together forming a nice V and not widely spaced apart.

If you are an ASBC member go to the album gallery and look for the feet and toes album, lots of pictures of bad, decent, and good feet/toe pictures for you to look and compare with commentary from some members on many of the pictures.

So great to have your input again Jessy!! A big welcome back!!!

 

[Suzierd]

My babies don't have a dust bath area (4 - 5 months) I was thinking of getting them some kind of horse feed dish and putting something in it for them to dust bath in. Any suggestions on what silkies would like? Sand? If so what kind? Thanks

 

[peepblessed]

Well somebody's crowing I keep trying to catch who's doing it but of course he doesn't do it in front of me. Do you guys still think Penny's a girl?

Just seems like Zeek is to young not even five months yet.

They all look like boys to me. If that last one is Penny I would say definitely a boy.

 

[peepblessed]

Just wondered what kind of sand?

I don't know what this question refers to, but if you are talking about a run, I use coarse river sand. Fine sand sticks to everything. Welcome to BYC! Do you have silkies?

 

[peepblessed]

My babies don't have a dust bath area (4 - 5 months) I was thinking of getting them some kind of horse feed dish and putting something in it for them to dust bath in. Any suggestions on what silkies would like? Sand? If so what kind? Thanks

Medium to coarse sand with food grade DE mixed in would be wonderful.

 

[Hawkeye95]

The only DQ is improper number of toes. You don't want extra toenails, fused toes, web toes, etc....all I try to avoid.

Short outer toes are as Hawkeye stated brachydactyly... as ABA standards its not a DQ, and a very minor fault in the grand scheme of things...I personally cut those birds out last if at all, as it is not a big deal and simple to get rid of. However I won't breed one that has a SUPER short toe and no nail. if it has a decent length toe, or is somewhat short with a nail, I will keep them to use if they are an otherwise nice bird...

The 5th toe is usually longer(and should be) than the 4th toe and SHOULD kick back in a curve, it shouldn't be straight. but its not a big deal in the grand scheme of things really...

The best feet are spaced nicely, with the 4th and 5th should not be too far from the interior long toe (#3 I guess) The 4th and 5th should be close together forming a nice V and not widely spaced apart.

If you are an ASBC member go to the album gallery and look for the feet and toes album, lots of pictures of bad, decent, and good feet/toe pictures for you to look and compare with commentary from some members on many of the pictures.

you should hang around more often, Jessie!

Here's SOP on feet. The 5th toe should go backwards.

Legs and Toes: Male - Legs short and stout, set well apart, straight when viewed from the front. Lower thighs: short, stout at top, tapering to hocks, abundantly feathered. Hocks: covered with soft and silky feathers curving inwards about the hocks.
Shanks: rather short, stout in boner, well feathered on the outer sides with silky plumage, the upper part growing out from thigh plumage and continuing into foot feathering. Spurs: medium size and length, set just above the 5th toe. Toes: five, the three front straight, well and evenly spread, the hind toe double, the normal toe in natural position and the extra toe placed above, starting from close to the other toe, but well formed, longer than the other toes and curving upwards and backwards; the outer and middle toe well feathered. Female - same as male except no spur. (Bare middle toe a serious defect in either sex)

well, I'm going to have to correct my thinking because I had been told that my birds had faults for their 5th toe pointing backwards! HA! I was going to use them anyway, as they all looked like that. Wish I could remember who told me that now... I'm thinking it was at the Spring show a few months ago!

 

[peepblessed]

you should hang around more often, Jessie!

well, I'm going to have to correct my thinking because I had been told that my birds had faults for their 5th toe pointing backwards! HA! I was going to use them anyway, as they all looked like that. Wish I could remember who told me that now... I'm thinking it was at the Spring show a few months ago!

I hope it wasn't a judge!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I hope it wasn't a judge!!

I don't think so... I'm thinking it might have been the lady that was clerking... She probably didn't even have silkies, so I don't know why I didn't double check that info! Usually I check everything.

 

[aoxa]

Too early to tell. He is a shapely boy though. Could have better/heavier foot feathering. At this point he looks a tad out of balance. Needs more crest and cushion to balance things out. But again, he is young.

He is very out of balance, he has a bum foot But I thought he looked good coming from the parents he came from. He's being rehomed free of charged because of his little foot issue.

You can see the foot problem here better

His sister has much better feet!