Types of Silkis

[Coreenelane]

Last spring I got some silkis from TSC and they have a different comb than my other silkis. They have a single comb and wattles. I thought they were roos until the eggs showed up in the fair cage. How do I find out if they are not true Silkis?

 

[Pyxis]

If they have single combs they are not show quality sikies. Hatchery silkies often have this problem due to bad breeding. They don't conform to the show standard at all. If you want real, show quality silkies you will have to get some from a breeder.

 

[Coreenelane]

Quote:
Thanks , I have one hen that is a good silki so I will not be breeding the TSC silkis.

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

If they have single combs they are not show quality sikies. Hatchery silkies often have this problem due to bad breeding. They don't conform to the show standard at all. If you want real, show quality silkies you will have to get some from a breeder.

How do they get single combs in the first place? I know single combs are recessive, and can pop up from time to time, but really, it’s that common? I just got 4 feed store silkies. Only one has a single comb (also looking for show birds) thankfully, but still, how is it that common? I get that silkies are hard to breed as only 1 out of 10 eggs are actually fertile. But how do you mess up that bad, and not fix it?


Also yes I know its been 7 years, but I have not seen this talked about that often TBH. maybe I’m on a different side of BYC.

 

[Pyxis]

How do they get single combs in the first place? I know single combs are recessive, and can pop up from time to time, but really, it’s that common? I just got 4 feed store silkies. Only one has a single comb (also looking for show birds) thankfully, but still, how is it that common? I get that silkies are hard to breed as only 1 out of 10 eggs are actually fertile. But how do you mess up that bad, and not fix it?


Also yes I know its been 7 years, but I have not seen this talked about that often TBH. maybe I’m on a different side of BYC.

Yep, it's just recessive, and the hatcheries do not care if the birds meet the breed standards, so they'll just breed birds with single combs, and there you have it.

Silkies also usually aren't that hard to breed, and it's not only one of out ten eggs that are fertile. If you're having fertility rates like that, you'll want to trim their feathers around their vents because they could be preventing them from making contact.

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

Yep, it's just recessive, and the hatcheries do not care if the birds meet the breed standards, so they'll just breed birds with single combs, and there you have it.

Silkies also usually aren't that hard to breed, and it's not only one of out ten eggs that are fertile. If you're having fertility rates like that, you'll want to trim their feathers around their vents because they could be preventing them from making contact.

I have yet to breed silkies, I have seen other people saying their hatch rates were like that however. So I assumed it was a common issue in silkies.

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

Yep, it's just recessive, and the hatcheries do not care if the birds meet the breed standards, so they'll just breed birds with single combs, and there you have it.

Silkies also usually aren't that hard to breed, and it's not only one of out ten eggs that are fertile. If you're having fertility rates like that, you'll want to trim their feathers around their vents because they could be preventing them from making contact.

And the single comb thing makes sense. Now that you mentioned that. All though it does not make sense from a breeders point, I get most people looking for show birds go to local breeders, or buy hatching eggs. But still, It would make more sense to breed show quality birds rather than pet quality.


Also I just ordered some lavender orpingtons, and polish chicks from hoovers, what are the chances of getting show quality birds from them.? If you don’t know thats fine, I’m just starting to worry that I won’t get show birds in time for my state fair.

(I cant find a breeder, and I don’t have an incubator, or a broody hen at the moment)

 

[Pyxis]

Also I just ordered some lavender orpingtons, and polish chicks from hoovers, what are the chances of getting show quality birds from them.? If you don’t know thats fine, I’m just starting to worry that I won’t get show birds in time for my state fair.

Very low. Lavender orps may have better chances than polish, since they haven't been around as long and most hatcheries haven't had them for as long so they can't have messed them up as much as they have, say, buffs, lol.

But in general a bird from a hatchery is never going to be competitive against birds from a show breeder that is actually focusing on just a couple breeds and choosing breeding stock based on the standard. Even when you're breeding like that, only one out of ten birds is usually good enough to breed from, and then maybe one of ten of THOSE is a good show prospect.

But for a fair, you might be fine IF it's not APA/ABA sanctioned. Fairs are often not judged by actual sanctioned APA and ABA judges, and people entering them might also just be entering hatchery birds, unlike shows sanctioned by the APA/ABA where APA/ABA members are competing, there are APA/ABA judges, and the winners gets points.

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

Very low. Lavender orps may have better chances than polish, since they haven't been around as long and most hatcheries haven't had them for as long so they can't have messed them up as much as they have, say, buffs, lol.

But in general a bird from a hatchery is never going to be competitive against birds from a show breeder that is actually focusing on just a couple breeds and choosing breeding stock based on the standard. Even when you're breeding like that, only one out of ten birds is usually good enough to breed from, and then maybe one of ten of THOSE is a good show prospect.

But for a fair, you might be fine IF it's not APA/ABA sanctioned. Fairs are often not judged by actual sanctioned APA and ABA judges, and people entering them might also just be entering hatchery birds, unlike shows sanctioned by the APA/ABA where APA/ABA members are competing, there are APA/ABA judges, and the winners gets points.

Good to know, thank you. So it’s unlikely to get anything higher than a first. (My older LO got first and she was a hatchery chick. All though she has minnor issues. Like her comb is a little flopped over, not bad though.) so assuming the lavenders have a 1/150 chance of getting at least one close to show quality bird. And the polish 1/300? Eh I’m willing to risk it. Perhaps if I get some good quality Orpingtons I could have a go at breeding them better.

And it is APA sectioned. But my other LO did good from the same hatchery I am ordering from now.

Also thank you for the info. It’s sad that the hatchery’s don’t care enough to have good breeding lines. You would expect them to though.