Silkies 101 - 20 of the most common Silkie questions...

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Where there is a will, there is a way. A tiny little bird can fertilize a large standard. That's how I have gotten a silkieXbrahma and a silkieXorpington. Both moms were considerably larger than large-fowl EEs.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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I visit with my Silkies every night when they're on the roost (mine roost via a ladder). They feel just like a plush down comforter. Aren't feathers without barbicels essentially... down? It seems like the air-trapping, insulating properties of down would be great for tolerating extra low temperatures. Also a walnut comb should fare particularly well. Yes?

Yes to both.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Sorry. I disagree with this one. The outer "coat" is technically NOT down, and it doesn't provide any extra insulation.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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No, it is not manufactured. A good quality Silkie should possess a good amount of natural shredding in the wing and tail feathers. And it is possible to make a not so shredded wing look more shredded by using a flea comb or wire slicker brush.

As to whether or not it is considered 'faking', I believe only you can answer that, as it is something that you'll have to decide for yourself. Poultry exhibitors do lots of things to make their birds look better, for instance Vet-Rx on the comb and legs, nail and beak trimming, crest trimmming etc. Some people believe that these things are 'faking' as well. In my opinion, they are only enhancing what the bird already possesses; kinda like waxing a car. The car is already nice, but a fresh coat of wax makes it look nice and shiny. You'll have to decide how honest you want your 'show' to be. Does this make sense?

Yes, it makes sense. I have never been to a chicken show, so I don't know what amount of "prep" is allowed. In AKC some breeds forbid the use of baby powder etc... can't even trim a whisker! What is born is how it is supposed to be shown, other than a bath, blow out and brushing. Even the shor coat breeds like German Shorhiared Pointers get QUITE A BIT of prep, trimming, baby powder if they are very light colored, coat conditioner that adds shine, and even spray stuff on the botom of their feet to make them tacky so they don't slip on the turns if it is a smooth floor. All that for a slick, short haired, hunting type dog that should just be wash 'n wear.

Horses, people go to EXTREME lenths to change their looks, including putting needles into the crests of their necks and heating them with a lighter to help melt the fat so it can be removed by rolling it with a rolling pin, sweating their necks for hours, binding them with neck sweats, treadmill workouts, backing the horse up a hill, putting them in a small pen and having them change direction time and time again to build up the haunches, breaking and removing the nerve to the tail so they can't swish it when you put a spur in them, they look better trained and happier than they really are. Also surgically altering the ear shape, tatooing around the eyes, surgically removing white spots that shouldn't be there, adding spots to horses that need them, braces to straighten their teeth, inserting fake testicles for cryptorchids, and ON and on and on... none, or at least most of the above is not legal for horse showing but it is standard practice in NUMEROUS world caliber trainer barns. I wouldn't do it even if I was GUARANTEED never to get caught. What's the point of trimming a stud's ears if all his babies are going to be lop eared anyhow? Not worth it. Get a stud with little ears if that is what you want. I guess same with chickens.

GROOMING is certainly allowed, and most would include the use of shampoo, stain removers and other products or procedures that do not ALTER the bird's natural condition. Dye would be altering. An unstained, clean bird is not.

Likewise, cage training a bird is usually considered important, especially for certain breeds, and I really don't see much difference there than with training a horse to build up his haunches. Surgical alteration (let's ignore standard required dubbing and ear/tail cropping) is certainly faking.

I personally do not think putting braces on a horse should be considered faking, but it does seem like it would remove them from competition for quite a while if they are to work. Pulling all their teeth and surgically implanting "more perfect" ones would indeed.

I guess to a certain extent there is a grey area between grooming and faking, but most of it seems pretty clear cut to me.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Sorry. I disagree with this one. The outer "coat" is technically NOT down, and it doesn't provide any extra insulation.

Yes, I realize we disagree here. Something doesn't have to be "technical" to have the same properties; thus my difference of opinion.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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That was my point exactly. What's clear cut to you and me and her can be three different things. You might approve of plucking off color feathers, I dont. Everyone has to decide for themselves according to their own personal ethics, because unfortunately there isn't an 'ethics judge' at a show.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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It sort of does, because your saying that Silkies can tolerate colder climates because of extra insulation. I'm saying that they can't, and should be treated as any other breed.

 

[Chic Chick]

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No, the genetics are entirely different. Blue is the heterozygous state of a single gene. Splash is the homozygous state of the gene. In either one or two copies, the blue gene dilutes all black pigment in the feathers to some degree.

Red, however is the result of a group of genes interacting together, and there are several different recipes for red.

Thanks for answering .... I haven't come across any posts about red mixes so it got me wondering about it. What would be a good site to answer all my genetic questions with the colors?

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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Suze's kitchen table.... bring a pot of coffee, I'm sure she can teach you A LOT!

 

[silkiechick05]

I have a blue silkie with a white feather on his foot

Is that a DQ??