Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

Trying to get a head-count on silkie lovers...

  • ME! - I like silkies!

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MapleValleyAcresFarm said:
Okay, so i've finally got a broody Silkie. Well, she's been broody a week. :celebrateSuper excited to finally have her go broody. Feels like i've been waiting forever.🤣
So i've had lots of broodies before, but never a Silkie.
Do i need to sperate her from the rest of my silkies before her chicks hatch?? I always have to sperate my other broodies from the rest of their flock- but will I haven to sperate the Junia (my broody Silkie) from the rest of her flock or can shh raise her babies with the other silkies??
Thanks
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Depends on how big of a flock. I usually have 5 hens and a rooster in a pen. I leave broodies in those. Everyone will help keep chicks warm at night. Roosters can be very helpful.

If there are a lot of teens, it's best to move them. Teens are too rambunctious and confuse chicks sometimes. I move those hens. Or the teens depending on age.
 
LynnaePB said:
Hmmm I'm just guessing here but it looks like they are both likely partridge based with the addition of the columbian gene in Biscuits case that pushes the black/blue to the tail and wingtips mostly.

Smokey looks maybe blue based and Biscuit might be as well or even a darker splash base given the way some of his tail feathers are darker than others.

I'm guessing you will get grey (silver partridge) and Columbian grey offspring from these two that may be blue/black/or splash based (or only blue and splash based partridge/grey if Biscuit is actually splash). The red leakage is likely to show up in male offspring and will probably not be very noticeable in female offspring. Biscuit looks silver based to me but if he is actually silver/gold you might also get some partridge and buff (gold based) offspring from the pair as well. If Biscuit happens to be homozygous for columbian I think that would mean all the offspring would inherit one copy. In a gold based partridge this would result in more of a buff look with smut (darker feathers) in the tail and wings.

I'm looking forward to seeing the offspring! If my guesses are right they should have some partridge type chipmunk markings as chicks most likely. The ones who inherit columbian may have less patterning but will likely still have a bit (like a bit around the eyes and a few spots/stripes on the back). I could be completely wrong though. 😅

Here is the differences between how the red showed up on some of my grow outs I hatched around Easter with a red pyle project boy who has a somewhat similar amount of red to Biscuit and is also likely silver based over a red partridge hen. He has dominant white rather than Columbian though.

Here is how it looks on a silver partridge/grey girl from them (she has a sister who didn't get as much of it and looks more silver).... very subtle, you can see the brown tint in some areas though.

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Here is her silver partridge/grey brother....it shows up a lot more vibrantly on him.

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Here is a red pyle project girl from the pairing.....on the lighter base it becomes a lot more obvious.

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And here is a red pyle project boy from them (sorry the picture is blurry). The red is definitely the most obvious on him! 😁

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Here are mom and dad

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It's easiest to tell when they are chicks since the crest isn't in the way but you can still tell when they are adults as well. If they have a very small vault it might not be very easy to tell they are vaulted though. You'll have to get a good look at the shape of the top of the head. I can usually do this by holding them and parting their crest so I can see to the skin on their heads. If the crest is wetted it can be easier to see as well. :)

I don't have any pictures of vaulted vs non in adults but here is some vaulted vs non chicks. That (brain/skull lump) that is raised on the head is the vault. Sometimes that entire portion sticking up has no skull over it (just skin) hence why vaulted can be much more prone to head injuries.

Sorry for some hatching goo, I find it easiest to see vaults when they are just hatched. A lot of time I'll let them dry off in a little heating pad cave while I hold them and I'll snap a quick pick to look back on to see how their vault and comb looked at hatch. Some might look dead but they are just tuckered out from hatching. :lol:

Here are some vaulted both newly hatched and dry

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And here are some non vaulted

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Since vault size can vary sometimes it can be hard to see a vault that is very mall. This chick has a vault though you may not really be able to tell by looking at a picture. In person I could see there was a very small one.

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Hmmm I don't have any experience with three of those (I have had easter eggers). Based on looks though it's a tie between the araucana (with the rumpless ones something about not having a tail looks adorable) and the salmon Faverolle (I just think they look really pretty). :)


Congratulations on your new little black pullet! All three look adorable (and very feminine)! 🥰
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Thank you for the informative reply!! Love the pics of your gorgeous fluffies too :love
I will post pics of the chicks and as they grow up. I haven't candled the eggs yet though as I don't want to disturb broody but I do want to make sure there are no rotten ones under her so I'll have to check soon.
 
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MapleValleyAcresFarm said:
Okay, so i've finally got a broody Silkie. Well, she's been broody a week. :celebrateSuper excited to finally have her go broody. Feels like i've been waiting forever.🤣
So i've had lots of broodies before, but never a Silkie.
Do i need to sperate her from the rest of my silkies before her chicks hatch?? I always have to sperate my other broodies from the rest of their flock- but will I haven to sperate the Junia (my broody Silkie) from the rest of her flock or can shh raise her babies with the other silkies??
Thanks
Click to expand...
I have needed to separate my recent broody as Cookie the rooster kept trying to mate her in the nest! So just keep watch as to the bahaviour of the rest in the flock and if all is well then it's easier to leave her where she is.
 
Hanabi laid her first egg today!😍
Little tiny thing appropriate for her size or may just be a first pullet egg size.
Photo next to my EE and my Leghorn crosses eggs for size comparison!
It’s a bit smaller and a bit more brown than the silkie’s eggs.😊
B155E090-E375-44AC-B648-473278669149.jpeg
 
LadiesAndJane said:
Hanabi laid her first egg today!😍
Little tiny thing appropriate for her size or may just be a first pullet egg size.
Photo next to my EE and my Leghorn crosses eggs for size comparison!
It’s a bit smaller and a bit more brown than the silkie’s eggs.😊View attachment 2840759
Click to expand...
Hooray! Congrats! Great job Hanabi! I had a first layer lay an egg today too! It was purplish.
 

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