Tips on choosing silkie babies?

[FenDruadin]

We're thinking about getting a few silkies. There are folks advertising on craigslist here, and of course there are always hatcheries to order from. We only want a few, but I'm perfectly comfortable finding someone to split an order with if I decide to order.

Any thoughts on what I should be looking for when choosing babies? I know I want blue, splash, black, or white in terms of color. I also want strong broodiness and extreme friendliness. Cuteness is a given in the breed, but I don't care too much whether it's from show stock or not, as long as it serves the purposes I'm looking for and looks nice.

I'd love suggestions of good breeders and/or tips on finding a good local source.

Thank you!!

 

[Camelot Farms]

I personally like upintheholler's birds here in SWVA and she ships! I am sure that other BYCers have great stock too...I just know hers personally

PM her and see what she has. She will walk you through what you are looking for in a quality bird I bet.

Have fun! We LOVE our silkies

 

[LeBlackbird]

The larger the crest on the babie chick, the larger the crest on the Adult! So if you are looking for a really cute silkie, pick the chicks with the larger, more defineded crests

 

[FenDruadin]

Thank you VERY much. I'll look into the upintheholler's birds & maybe contact her. That's not all that far, so the shipping shouldn't be too hard on the babies either. Thanks for the suggestion, and also the tip on crests!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Try Sassy Silkies. I have some birds I hatched from her eggs and they are great. Also try Catdance Silkies in WA. I just got some eggs from her last week. Very pleased!

Im having a mind block right now and cant think of any other names.

If your looking for nice fluffy birds, big crests, lots of toe/leg feathering, go with a breeder instead of a hatchery. Hatchery birds are usually very poor representives of the silkie breed. I had hatchery silkies a couple years ago, and they were very skiddish, nothing like the silkies I have now.