Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I think what colors you might get is a tricky question due to unknown genetics. I'm not really convinced your rooster is red pyle either. Looking at him I would think a eumelanin restrictor gene like Co (Columbian) is more likely as he has a lot of black in his tail and some on the wings. If he was red pyle which has dominant white involved the black feathers would likely be more randomly placed. The red on his wings is likely some sort of autosomal red. From what I've read autosomal red is really difficult to breed out of a line so I would think you should probably see it showing up in non recessive white offspring fairly frequently. Recessive white offspring shouldn't show it as recessive white is typically very good at covering other colors. I would guess he may have a chance of carrying one recessive white gene as his father had some white offspring so paired with another recessive white carrier or a recessive white hen you could get some white chicks. I'd think you'd have a good chance of having some interesting colors result from breeding him. If he is carrying a Columbian gene which I believe is incompletely dominant you'll probably see that passing on to some of the non recessive white offspring he sires.

I don't know enough about Columbian genetics to guess very well at what you might get though.

I'm sure some more experienced with genetics might be able to answer more knowledgeably. I'm still learning and trying to wrap my head around a lot of it!

I could be wrong about the red pyle thing though. If he is actually red pyle paint may become a possibility for some of the offspring as both paint and red pyle have dominant white involved.

If you try using him I'd love to hear what sort of offspring you get, he is such a pretty boy!



Wow, there is no denying that little one has some really obvious streamers! I've heard of it happening but I've never seen pictures of it until now. Thank you for posting them!

Thanks for the info on colours! My roo has proved 1 fertile egg so I haven't given up on him yet but I do hope I can have my cockerel in the mix anyway by Winter if they can all get along in 1 coop - although I saw today they were fighting through the fence a bit so it may not work out with them all together.

 

[LynnaePB]

Thanks for the info on colours! My roo has proved 1 fertile egg so I haven't given up on him yet but I do hope I can have my cockerel in the mix anyway by Winter if they can all get along in 1 coop - although I saw today they were fighting through the fence a bit so it may not work out with them all together.

That is great your roo is still fertile. I've heard of them sometimes losing fertility in the fall, maybe come spring the fertility will improve!

I've heard of plenty of silkie roosters getting along though I've mostly had bad luck with this myself after they reach a certain age. Sometimes they just refuse to get along!

 

[Mariella posey]

Did everything work out and you got 20 babies!? Pics!?

Yes, after some confusion and a misunderstanding we ended up with 22 10-15 week olds and 6 6 week olds. They are a poor quality but still really sweet and cute and fluffy. I added a picture of one of the 15 week olds next too Chip, he is a bit bigger than Chip.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Update: Pewee is integrating great, and tonight I let him out with the girls without me watching them. Tomorrow he'll probably be with them the whole day. Now here's the trick, he has got to be sleeping, eating, and drinking with them in 8 days, let's see how this goes!

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

That is great your roo is still fertile. I've heard of them sometimes losing fertility in the fall, maybe come spring the fertility will improve!

I've heard of plenty of silkie roosters getting along though I've mostly had bad luck with this myself after they reach a certain age. Sometimes they just refuse to get along!

It is now Summer here Spring just been and he has been hit and miss with fertility until my cockerel started mating then he was back on, then I separated cockerel as he was mating too much. ..So they were in together and were fine, no fights, so I was hoping they would still be fine together if I put cockerel back in but maybe he's reached the certain age he will fight rooster instead of get along ..
What age do pullets need to be to contribute to the total number of girls to roosters? I have 7 x 4 week olds and some would be pullets (hoping a few!) so if I have 6 hens plus couple pullets (hopefully) I might be ok to have cockerel in the mix without fighting? .. Otherwise I'll have to keep cockerel seperated in other coop with his 2 pullets as I do now. (I'd rather not keep separate as old coop is not as good for cold weather)

 

[LynnaePB]

It is now Summer here Spring just been and he has been hit and miss with fertility until my cockerel started mating then he was back on, then I separated cockerel as he was mating too much. ..So they were in together and were fine, no fights, so I was hoping they would still be fine together if I put cockerel back in but maybe he's reached the certain age he will fight rooster instead of get along ..
What age do pullets need to be to contribute to the total number of girls to roosters? I have 7 x 4 week olds and some would be pullets (hoping a few!) so if I have 6 hens plus couple pullets (hopefully) I might be ok to have cockerel in the mix without fighting? .. Otherwise I'll have to keep cockerel seperated in other coop with his 2 pullets as I do now. (I'd rather not keep separate as old coop is not as good for cold weather)

Oops I should have paid more attention to your location, I should know better seeing as there are so many users from all around the world here!

As far as how old the pullets need to be to count towards the male to female ratio I would think they'd need to be around laying age as that is when they'll start letting the males mate. I could be wrong though so maybe someone else will chime in.

I think the ratio that works out is highly dependent on the cockerels/cocks involved. If they end up being able to work things out to where they are living in relative peace together you might be ok with 8 hens/pullets but I'd watch to make sure the girls aren't getting over mated. With silkies especially you'll have to keep in mind the fact that if they go broody that ratio will be thrown off especially so if multiple go broody at once. I hope you are able to find a good solution, I'm constantly trying to find ways to get my males to get along better and it is really tough sometimes!

 

[PioneerChicks]

Oops I should have paid more attention to your location, I should know better seeing as there are so many users from all around the world here!

As far as how old the pullets need to be to count towards the male to female ratio I would think they'd need to be around laying age as that is when they'll start letting the males mate. I could be wrong though so maybe someone else will chime in.

I think the ratio that works out is highly dependent on the cockerels/cocks involved. If they end up being able to work things out to where they are living in relative peace together you might be ok with 8 hens/pullets but I'd watch to make sure the girls aren't getting over mated. With silkies especially you'll have to keep in mind the fact that if they go broody that ratio will be thrown off especially so if multiple go broody at once. I hope you are able to find a good solution, I'm constantly trying to find ways to get my males to get along better and it is really tough sometimes!

I've been preparing for breeding, hoping to start in Febuary. Really hoping this roo will keep the hens fertile, but he has never been around girls before so I'm sort of worried. But his hormones do seem to be kicking in, he is not so chill with me handling him now.

How do you keep your silkie hens from going broody? This coming year I'll have only four hens (lost one, that made my plans harder) but I'll raise a bunch for 2022. They apparently all have mothering abilities, some stronger than others. Like seriously, two out of three of my silkies went broody for just a couple days this week. Just when the egg laying was starting to pick up

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I've been preparing for breeding, hoping to start in Febuary. Really hoping this roo will keep the hens fertile, but he has never been around girls before so I'm sort of worried. But his hormones do seem to be kicking in, he is not so chill with me handling him now.

How do you keep your silkie hens from going broody? This coming year I'll have only four hens (lost one, that made my plans harder) but I'll raise a bunch for 2022. They apparently all have mothering abilities, some stronger than others. Like seriously, two out of three of my silkies went broody for just a couple days this week. Just when the egg laying was starting to pick up

Not sure if any way to pevent broodiness except the usual- block nest access at night, monitor hens in the nest to make sure she's off the nest after laying, make sure all are roosting at night... But only 3 days in the cage and broodiness is over ..my pullets have been laying in the broody cage! Cage eggs
It does throw out the ratio a bit though esp since 2 of mine have in sync hormones go broody together! My rooster often stays beside the broody hens in their cages or checks up on them, so it's still like they are still part of the flock.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Not sure if any way to pevent broodiness except the usual- block nest access at night, monitor hens in the nest to make sure she's off the nest after laying, make sure all are roosting at night... But only 3 days in the cage and broodiness is over ..my pullets have been laying in the broody cage! Cage eggs
It does throw out the ratio a bit though esp since 2 of mine have in sync hormones go broody together! My rooster often stays beside the broody hens in their cages or checks up on them, so it's still like they are still part of the flock.
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What a sweet roo! Thanks for the advice!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hello lovely silkie folks!
Genetics question again!
My little hybrids are still hatching. 10th one today. Last night (#9) needed a little help getting out of the egg, as she has this huge vaulted skull! She is doing fine now. She is the only one that has a vaulted skull out of the 10 that have hatched so far. I did not expect any of the chicks to have a vaulted skull. Father (silkie) does not really have a significant one and mother is not even a vaulted skull breed (ameraucana/BCM).
Does anyone know the genetics behind the vaulted skull? I could not find any info in the threads. This chick almost looks polish!
All 10 of these chicks look different from each other, some differences are subtle, some are major. They all have black eyes, beaks and feathered dark legs.
8 are black, 2 are blue. So far planning to keep one of the blues.