Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Hinotori]

Interesting. Are silkies known for that??

No idea. I didn't have spurred roosters until I crossed in an unrelated hen.

 

[Anime2lover]

No idea. I didn't have spurred roosters until I crossed in an unrelated hen.

Oh, it looks cool though XD

 

[LadiesAndJane]

We went from one, to five in a three month span. They are the most gentle little birds! Jadis is our favorite hen, and our one and only pearl guinea that survived Hurricane Laura and Delta has decided that she's "mom". It hilarious watching them at night because the guinea's almost twice her size but still tries to go under her belly.... she just adjusts herself on the guinea's neck and lets it happen. It's the cutest thing. The other birds leave them to themselves all day too. I think some of that is because Guinea Baby (yes such an original name I know) is so loud when she thinks somebody is messing with her flock-mates. <3

Must see photos of these cuties if you are so inclined!

 

[LynnaePB]

Is this little guy a splash colour? He has red leakage aswell, hard to see in pics.
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...maybe 2 boys, other splashy colour one has only tiny red leakage on wing... I think these 2 maybe from my (red pyle?) cockerel and white hen mix. View attachment 2480006

What a pretty little guy! It's just a guess but he looks like a gray/silver partridge to me with red leakage. Although I probably wouldn't call him a splash with red leakage there is the possibility that he also has blue or splash involved in his color too. I actually would guess it is likely he at least has blue involved given how diluted the under color is. When you mix colors you can get all sorts of things in one bird making for some interesting results.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

What a pretty little guy! It's just a guess but he looks like a gray/silver partridge to me with red leakage. Although I probably wouldn't call him a splash with red leakage there is the possibility that he also has blue or splash involved in his color too. I actually would guess it is likely he at least has blue involved given how diluted the under color is. When you mix colors you can get all sorts of things in one bird making for some interesting results.

I like interesting results! unique, no other exactly the same. Easier to tell them apart too as I do get confused with my 4 white ones.. I might have to dye them colours... Anyone else done that?

 

[cajuncluckerswla]

Must see photos of these cuties if you are so inclined!

I have to get some better ones now that they're bigger, but I do have this one of Jadis from about 2 months ago.

 

[Willawong Hill]

I've never died my silkies (I'm lucky mine are all different colours) but i think you can but food dye in the water when you bathe them?

 

[Hinotori]

This is the most famous dyed silkie I think. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...person-yell-at-me-coloring-my-chicken.457245/

 

[Willawong Hill]

Who knows about the polydactyly gene in silkies? I picked up a little day old yesterday as company for a bad hatch and noticed that she's only got 4 toes on one foot (regulation 5 on the other). If it's a she and she otherwise turns out nice, could she be bred with or is she likely to throw 4 toed offspring? I thought i read somewhere that the gene could be variably expressed even if they have it and that's why you sometimes get 6 toes etc?

 

[Hinotori]

That's the same that I've heard of the polydactyl gene they have.

I do not breed them because I used a rooster with a double rear claw at one point and it's popped up too many times in the descendants.

My half silkie rooster in with my large fowl has 6 toes on his right foot. One of his 14 offspring had it as well, but most had 4 or 5 toes which is expected with the mothers being 4 toed breeds.

I've always sold off the wrong toed pullets as pets. Well except one who had 4 toes on one foot, but she was such a good looking bird otherwise I figured she was worth the risk. I never saw an increase in that fault from the breedings.