Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

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.

Makes sense. I don't like the extra work of oversized crest and just don't like vaulted skulls. At this point I'm only trying not to keep any vaulted, smaller crests are for a later date.

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.

One of my biggest crest is a non bearded, i think she may be vaulted. I believe the other biggest is bearded.

I only have two bearded adults right now, I believe. Lots of bearded babies though

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

So if I'm correct about the parents throwing the single combs, my splash babies despite having a walnut combs have what, a 50%? of carrying single?

 

[Hinotori]

So if I'm correct about the parents throwing the single combs, my splash babies despite having a walnut combs have what, a 50%? of carrying single?

Not exactly. 50% of them will carry it. 25% will be single and 25% will only carry walnut.

Simple punnet square for it works with this gene.

 

[Ponypoor]

Question regarding silkie hatching dates

I have some silkie eggs that are on day 20, I expected them to hatch yesterday. Indeed I have 5 blue eggs in the same incubator that pipped and 3 already hatched today.

I am going to have my niece candle the silkies eggs tonight when school is out (she is a teacher and she is hatching the eggs for her class), is it unusual for silkie eggs to go past 20 days? Should she maybe hold off candling till tomorrow morning? See what happens overnight?

Thoughts on this???

 

[NagemTX]

I had a few that went to 21 days. They where shipped eggs tho. I also had power outages during their incubation time.

 

[Hinotori]

They usually hatch earlier for me. I have my incubator temp dialed in for silkies to get them to 20 or 21. I have had the occasional one get past day 21. I'd candle and see what's going on

 

[NagemTX]

Note, I've mostly had bantams hatch at Day 18/ 19 and my LF on 19/20. I've had very few stragglers that come out on 22 maybe 23. Even with all the power issues I've had this year.

 

[Ponypoor]

Note, I've mostly had bantams hatch at Day 18/ 19 and my LF on 19/20. I've had very few stragglers that come out on 22 maybe 23. Even with all the power issues I've had this year.

Update

Seems two of the silkie eggs have finally pipped, I might have my niece hold off till morning to candle. Really it’s not like she can do anything anyways. May as well just wait.

Most of my eggs even non silkie ones hatch I say 19, only had one ever on day 24!

 

[NagemTX]

This last batch started hatching in the turners because I was off on the day count by one day! Talk about frantically moving the eggs to the hatcher!

 

[Hinotori]

Silkies hatch earlier than LF ameraucana incubated at same temp in my experience. I adjusted temp on mine to get them off day 18-19. I absolutely will still have the turner on (on accident) because there are always early hatchers plus I felt day 17 was too early.