The American Paint Silkie

[CarolinaChickenKeeper]

How is one to ever choose?!?!?! They look a little odd, not having the huge crests, but hey what do I know? Other than that they look nice.
And congrats on the sales

 

[chickendales]

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i like the smaller crest make them lil more like chicken then a cottan ball that poops and there are less health risks with smaller crests

 

[Elite Silkies]

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Beautiful girl Jerry. She does look like she is screaming for help though in that first pic, LOL.

 

[jerschex]

Is everyone aware there are silkie police in the Netherlands, checking birds to see that the crest and beards don't interfer with the bird's ability to see and eat. (animal cruelty) I've seen American silkies with crest and beard so large, they walk around as though blind and just peck here and there in hope of hitting the feed bowl and get a speck to eat. Can't see how they mate, must be a lot of AI going on.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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I had a hen that couldn't see, so I tried to tape her crest. She got it out! Then my Buff Orp scalped her, and she was a totally different bird! Running around eating everything. I can certainly understand how it might be cruelty. I do give mine a huge tub full of feed, so they can all eat.

 

[joe17]

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Crests aren't a hard fix. You should see results in one generation especially if yours have the big crest.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Have to agree with Jerry & the European SOP.... The crests in the USA, on Silkies, has gotten way out of hand. Unfortunately, the SOP does not clearly define the size of crest that is "perfect"....at least the Europeans are considerate enough to clearly state that the "crest shall not impair vision"

Silkie breeders here have the thought process of "bigger is better".....for whom????, obviously not the bird. But as long as judges award the larger crests---that's what breeders will work towards...

 

[chickendales]

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well if breeders deside they didnt want crest that large then judge would have no choise but put up smaller crests

 

[FrenchToast]

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well if breeders deside they didnt want crest that large then judge would have no choise but put up smaller crests

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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A few years back there were a lot of judges who would use a judging stick to determine if silkies were seeing or not (waving it in front of or near their face, trying to get them to react. It is rather interesting that not all larger crests block vision and smaller ones often do. In my experience, it is far more likely to be MUFFS, not the crest, that block vision.

Hold a larger crested bird up at eye level and look to see if you can see its eyes. If you cannot, are the feathers that block your view growing up from the muffs, or down from the crest? If you can see the eyes, the bird can see. If you cannot see the eyes, trim those feathers that block vision.