Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I sold a white showgirl cockerel for $20. I had to buy him from a breeder in another state so they're rare enough for me to be fine asking that.
I try to base my price on their quality moreso than simply they're rarity. For example I'd probably ask more for the cockerel I'm growing out now cause he has much darker skin than that one I sold, but I'm keeping him for now

 

[chickengr]

Thank you! I didn't realize that.

I don't want to raise them as neither my hubby nor I particularly like them, although this one, out of its 6 siblings, still follows me all over.

One sibling is a NN paint, and she's cute plus my only paint, so we will keep her, but don't want to keep any males. I just can't get into those NN for some reason!

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I love LF naked necks but never wanted a showgirl. not sure why they don't attract me. although I admit they are cute.

 

[RememberTheWay]

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.

One of my biggest crest is a non bearded, i think she may be vaulted. I believe the other biggest is bearded.
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I only have two bearded adults right now, I believe. Lots of bearded babies though
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Can you tell me what the genetics are behind the color on those? Is it just leakage on black or were two patterns breed and that is the resulting offspring?

Next question is partridge a recessive gene?

 

[RememberTheWay]

On another note I'll get new pictures of the silkies on Sunday! I have so many right now!

My bantam Cochins this year hatched super early. If I remember correctly they piped on day 17 and everyone was hatched by day 18, maybe a few by 19. I was scared something was wrong because it was so early, but they are almost feathered out now and everyone seems to be fine

 

[RememberTheWay]

Texas, I have heard is strict as well. I do know from a breeder in Oregon that ships everywhere in the US with out NPIP with no issues even to Texas.

Well- you know - honestly with the way I see things, we should be able to do this. Who exactly is the "ruler" or "authority" over our private affairs or small business. It should be us and anyone who freely decides to purchase something. I shouldn't have to pay someone or ask permission. But that is just my personal opinion....

If I set up that same scenario with anyone it would be considered extortion, and a crime....... Somehow now though when "special" people do it or "special" organizations do it they get a free pass and it's not extortion.....?

Anyways.....

 

[RememberTheWay]

It was very sad, but she was starting to get sores on her hocks. When she passed we were able to get a better look at her legs without her struggling - they were very obviously deformed and twisted, the vet felt it was a defect from hatch. I also feel that was so.

It was sad because I hadn’t had any issues with any other chicks I had hatched in the few years I have had them. Makes me wonder if it is a silkie thing to have this sort of thing. My ‘mutt’ chicks are hardy little beasts. But the silkies seem very fragile, even the wee old English bantams I bought are tough wee things (gosh they are soooo tiny!).

This is exactly why I am researching everything I possibly can about breeding stronger, healthier, disease resistant, and more resilient birds and silkies. I only got into silkies this year but over all they do not seem as robust and resilient as any of the other breeds I've kept. I don't know why that is, but I do plan to work to improve it. I love Silkies, but I don't particularly care for paying the amount I pay for them only for them to die.

Hopefully I am able to make some contributions to strengthening their genetics. Btw- if anyone knows of any good resources for reading about that topic- I'm all ears!

 

[RememberTheWay]

Question -

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BRED PAINT SILKIES FOR A WHILE -

What have been your observations regarding distribution of paint over generations?

Background - I'm also learning about Ermine Ameraucana's, which from what I understand are essentially "paint". But unlike with paint silkies the ermine pattern is supposed to be evenly distributed across the body no more then 40% being black feathers. I have considered trying to breed in dominant white to a line of Ameraucana's using a different breed. Leghorn comes to mind. But I am curious about breeders experience with distribution of paint and what their observations have been. I know with silkies you want larger paint splotches but in breeding for that do you sometimes get more evenly distributed patterning? I'm assuming of it occurs that it would be a cull bc its undesirable in silkies. My next question would be what kind of experience have you had trying to repay a specific paint pattern in silkies. If you like the way a certain bird is painted - are you able to produce offspring with similar paint pattern or is it all up to chance?

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Can you tell me what the genetics are behind the color on those? Is it just leakage on black or were two patterns breed and that is the resulting offspring?

Next question is partridge a recessive gene?

I'm assuming you mean the chick in the last photo?
I'm still very much learning silkie colours myself but I believe that one is just a "Silver Partridge" or a "Grey".

This is a post made fairly recently about whether Partridge is recessive.

No. It's almost default chicken color. Wild type partridge just doesn't have the proper lacing. Other genes can modify it. That's how you get wheaten. Genes can also cover and change it.

Actual white silkies are recessive white and normally partridge underneath. Black silkies are extended black over the basic partridge gene. Black actually works really well to improve partridge if you need to cross in to improve comb color or body color. Only takes a couple generations to get back to partridge.

Original silkie color is the recessive white. Most breeds use dominant white and that's also the color used to make paints. Recessive white does not have leakage but takes two copies to show.

 

[CSolis]

This is exactly why I am researching everything I possibly can about breeding stronger, healthier, disease resistant, and more resilient birds and silkies. I only got into silkies this year but over all they do not seem as robust and resilient as any of the other breeds I've kept. I don't know why that is, but I do plan to work to improve it. I love Silkies, but I don't particularly care for paying the amount I pay for them only for them to die.

Hopefully I am able to make some contributions to strengthening their genetics. Btw- if anyone knows of any good resources for reading about that topic- I'm all ears!

I'm finding regular worming and adding a drop of lugol's iodine solution to 2 gals of water weekly helps a ton. Every animal/bird, even humans need iodine to not only survive but to thrive.

 

[chickengr]

My bantam Cochins this year hatched super early. If I remember correctly they piped on day 17 and everyone was hatched by day 18, maybe a few by 19. I was scared something was wrong because it was so early, but they are almost feathered out now and everyone seems to be fine

bantams hatch earlier than LF. day 18-19 is usual for them.