Silkie x Rhode Island Red? Anybody seen one?

[RAREROO]

That sounds good for me. Thanks

 

[NashChic]

Quote:
The owner said they are still young but it looks like they will be standard. They have a purebred Buff Orp hatched at the same time as the Silkie/Brahma. The Silkie/Brahma is already twice the size of the pure Buff Orp.

I'm really starting to get into the look of these silkie crosses with their pompadour hairdos

I was concerned they would be too small to actually use them to replenish my laying stock (whenever that might be needed), but if they're large fowl, or close to large fowl size, it might be neat to have a few.

 

[Smoky73]

I had some as well, they were splash silkie rooster over a rhode island red hen.

They all were tufted and had little crests, all were blue with some shades of red in them. Some of the females just had cream colored lacing int he breast. Almost all were 5 toed, and all had black skin. All were regular feathered.

 

[WVMHP]

Smoky73, I'm hoping you're still on BC because I'm replying to a 4 year old post... I'm also in Colorado and just purchased a 2 mo old Silkie X RIR pullet (I hope) at the poultry swap. She's a strawberry blonde color with 5 toes, black skin, regular feathering, and a crest. Very sweet disposition. Could you tell me how large yours got and how well they layed? I have other full-size docile breeds and hoping she'll be able to hold her own in the flock and deal with our winter temps here at 9,200ft. We just had our first snow this morning. :-o Really hoping she'll have that Silkie personality and mothering skills coupled with larger/better egg production and free range ability of the RIR. Any insights?

 

[NashChic]

I don't know if Smoky73 is still on here, but I might be able to help... a little. I was the one who originally posted the thread. Later I did hatch 3 silkyX chics... The rooster was a buff silky & fathered 2 hens from a buff orp & barred rock, and also a roster from a RIR. All of my silk crosses had normal feathers, feathered legs, black skin, 5 toes, & bouffant topknots. The hens were slightly smaller than my large fowl hens, but had no problems integrating once they were mature. They were also good layers of smallish ivory eggs, but wanted to brood often. The 2 hens preferred to sleep on the floor of the coop instead of the roost bar. The silkyXRIR rooster was an excellent protector, but non-aggressive with people. The picture is of Jerry Lee (buff silky X RIR) and Lady (buff silky X Buff Orp).

He had a big personality & has been sorely missed since he was killed trying to rescue a hen from a predator. We had a fox problem a few months ago that hit us pretty hard. Sadly, none of the silky crosses survived. But they were beautiful & interesting looking chickens with mild dispositions. I would definitely have them in my flock again if the opportunity arose.

 

[BoereMeisie]

I don't know if Smoky73 is still on here, but I might be able to help... a little. I was the one who originally posted the thread. Later I did hatch 3 silkyX chics... The rooster was a buff silky & fathered 2 hens from a buff orp & barred rock, and also a roster from a RIR. All of my silk crosses had normal feathers, feathered legs, black skin, 5 toes, & bouffant topknots. The hens were slightly smaller than my large fowl hens, but had no problems integrating once they were mature. They were also good layers of smallish ivory eggs, but wanted to brood often. The 2 hens preferred to sleep on the floor of the coop instead of the roost bar. The silkyXRIR rooster was an excellent protector, but non-aggressive with people. The picture is of Jerry Lee (buff silky X RIR) and Lady (buff silky X Buff Orp).

He had a big personality & has been sorely missed since he was killed trying to rescue a hen from a predator. We had a fox problem a few months ago that hit us pretty hard. Sadly, none of the silky crosses survived. But they were beautiful & interesting looking chickens with mild dispositions. I would definitely have them in my flock again if the opportunity arose.

Wow, they are beautiful. I came across this thread while searching what it would look like if I put my white Silkie rooster with my Rhode Island Red hen (as soon as she's done raising the chicks she's currently brooding). She is a beautiful RIR, and went broody for the first time now (it's Spring here in South Africa). I am going to experiment putting her in the breeding pen with the Silkie Rooster as soon as she's done raising her chicks and (hopefully) starts laying again. I'm now very excited to see what those chicks will look like! And they should set well too