Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Hinotori]

The evil things will go stand on their treadle feeder step when the birds manage to get in. Then they wait until the little bird takes the bait and flies down to grab food. Silkie then jumps off the treadle.

I had weights on the lids that silkies can just open because of too intelligent rats in the past. Lids really slam closed. Kills any small bird that's taking food.

They don't do it to their chicks. There is always an adult waiting on the chicks. I have to remove the treadle feeders because chicks have gotten stuck inside when feed gets low enough they climbed into the back and couldn't figure out how to get out

 

[RememberTheWay]

Sometimes you get smart boys who romance them from the start. I have a romeo like that in one pen. He's also the one who tried to feed chicks as a teenager, though, so maybe he was just an old reincarnated rooster

I have a few like this now. Most are bantam Cochins though. Really love how some of my bantam breed roosters are with the ladies

 

[CSolis]

I drove to Prattville AL today to deliver 1 hen (black) and 15 chicks. I no sooner got there and a neighbor was at the gate.. She bought 5 babies! What doesn't sell today go to the Prattville swap tomorrow with Carlos. In exchange for the black hen I brought back 'Nube' a white NN silkie.
So, speaking of ROOSTERS, I laughed my butt off when I introduced her to Lil Bear when I got home. He's been moping about next to the nest where his two wives are currently sitting. Watch what happen!

He's such a gentleman.

 

[CSolis]

Anddddddd his first offspring sprung today in the hatcheroo! Some from a blue hen and some from a hen with similar coloring as his.

 

[NagemTX]

Responded to a question in the byc facebook group about ugly coops. I don't think mine is very pretty.

This is my set up. All 5 pens open to a courtyard for safe "free ranging". It's on the west side so the walls stay tarped year round as I found it keeps it cooler inside.
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Back of pens. Faces east. Tarps off for summer cool.
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Inside down pens. 4x4 are support insurance for extra heavy snow. They are 10 foot so the extra height helps keep it cooler in summer. Doesn't cause any issues in winter because I tarp and it stays noticeably warmer inside.
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Each pen has a house for the group to sleep in. They are all raised up now to deter rodents from moving in out of the rain. My silkies kill rodents and they can walk under the houses.
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I like it. Its a bit better than mine but I'm currently working on more pens and more predator proofing because of all the influx of coons and opossums.

 

[chickengr]

another black silkie hatched the first one is 4 days old. the first broody has 3 dutch bantam chicks and 1 black silkie. she rejected a dutch bantam chick that hatched yesterday so I must make a cage for the other broody with 2 chicks and hope that the other 2 dutch bantam eggs hatch. I have other 2 dutch bantam broodies as well.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

What are people's thoughts on breeding out single combs in silkies? I'm really disappointed that I've had some pop up as I was really happy with my adults and their colours and will be sad to have to remove any from my breeding.

 

[Hinotori]

What are people's thoughts on breeding out single combs in silkies? I'm really disappointed that I've had some pop up as I was really happy with my adults and their colours and will be sad to have to remove any from my breeding.

I haven't had that fault pop up in my birds. I wouldn't use the bird for breeding and both parents would be removed from breeding since it's recessive so both carried it. I do this with most disqualifications. If it's from crossing in another breed for a trait, that takes much time to remove it from your gene pool.

It really matters on if you just want pets or are breeding to the SOP. Only DQ I don't remove is the moorhead if the bird is very good in other ways. Takes time but can breed it out.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I haven't had that fault pop up in my birds. I wouldn't use the bird for breeding and both parents would be removed from breeding since it's recessive so both carried it. I do this with most disqualifications. If it's from crossing in another breed for a trait, that takes much time to remove it from your gene pool.

I believe I've narrowed it down to one pen (one trio). I hate to have to stop breeding my only splash and my two splash chicks are probably his meaning I can't keep them either. One of my other rooster came from the same place as the splash so I'm worried he might carry it too.

It really matters on if you just want pets or are breeding to the SOP. Only DQ I don't remove is the moorhead if the bird is very good in other ways. Takes time but can breed it out.

Considering I'm doing a colour project, it's less so SOPs as much as my personal preferences. For example I want smaller crests with no vaulted skulls and I'd like my birds to eventually be on the bigger side, but I'd still like them to meet basic silkie traits such as comb type, toe number etc.

 

[Hinotori]

I believe I've narrowed it down to one pen (one trio). I hate to have to stop breeding my only splash and my two splash chicks are probably his meaning I can't keep them either. One of my other rooster came from the same place as the splash so I'm worried he might carry it too.


Considering I'm doing a colour project, it's less so SOPs as much as my personal preferences. For example I want smaller crests with no vaulted skulls and I'd like my birds to eventually be on the bigger side, but I'd still like them to meet basic silkie traits such as comb type, toe number etc.

Vaulted skull doesn't really have a relation to crest size no matter what some have claimed. Most of my biggest crests have had normal skulls. The crests tend to be rounder without it as well. I don't actively select against it, but also don't select for it so have had less with a vault over the years.

I actually got huge crests in using a hen who had almost none. All of her offspring had huge ones. She had a few faults but produced the best chicks. Temperament wise and broodiness as well. Totally unrelated to my other birds and was one of my first. If I'd known then what I know now I'd never have bought her on her conformation. Turned out very good in my favor.

I'd read somewhere that the excessive crests (and vaulted skull) were a leftover from polish being bred in to increase the crest size. Silkies used to have fairly small ones long ago. I don't think I've seen a non-bearded with a massive crest. Most birds at shows are bearded as well I noticed.