What quality are my Silkies?

[SundownWaterfowl]

I got these Silkies from a top silkie breeder.

They are 4 months old in the pictures.

What quality are they? Breeder quality, or show quality?

Out of the 4, 2 of them are starting to get redder combs, those I suspect are the roosters. I know that silkies are supposed to have mulberry combs, but with the buff variety, its harder to get that color comb. I will be working on that this year, and seeing what happens.

This picture was taken a month ago, so she was 3 months.

 

[BamaChicken]

The one on the right appears to be the best looking one you have. I would wait at least two more months and see how they look then.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

What about the pullet in the last picture, because I would pair her with the rooster? all the way to the right in the group shot?

Do you know any where I could find the point scale that is used when the judges judge silkies at shows?

 

[Smoky73]

The one on the right is better. The buffs are supposed to be a nice golden buff all the way through and the other two appear to have too light of an under color of fluff, meaning it appears almost white. You would get points deducted for it by some judges, not all though.
I have a few like that, one from a top breeder as well. No ideal, but use em if you got them.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

At four months it is really too early to tell SQ for certain. You can identify some faults and DQs, but not all. And some lines develop more slowly than others.

Males in general develop more slowly. A male who looks rather scraggley and small crested at a year may look stunning at 2 or 3 years (yes, it can take that long for them to finish developing).

Most important is type--without correct type, your bird, even if the rest of the specifics are right on, cannot (or at least should not according to the standard) place well.

The ABA standard has a points chart listed at the front; I assume that the APA Standard does as well. If you are serious about breeding you should purchase a standard.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
The one all the way to the right is a rooster, the one on the bottom is a hen. The hen on the bottom is an even shade of golden buff. Her color looks different in the picture than in person. So, I would breed the rooster all the way to the right and the pullet in the bottom pic, and I think I should get some nice chicks, right?


Also, where can I find the standard of perfection book?

 

[Smoky73]

You can get the standards from their clubsd, either the American Poultry Association or the American Bantam Association. Google them and you can check out their club pages.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Is this right?

Symmetry………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Size………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Condition…………………………………………………………………………………………………6
Head—Shape 3, Color 3…………………………………………………………………………..6
Comb and Crest—Comb 5, Crest 10………………………………………………………...15
Wattles and Ear Lobes……………………………………………………………………………..6
Neck—Shape 4, Color 4……………………………………………………………………………8
Back—Shape 3, Color 3…………………………………………………………………………….6
Breast—Shape 4, Color 4………………………………………………………………………….8
Body and Fluff—Shape 3, Color 3…………………………………………………………….6
Tail—Shape 4, Color 4……………………………………………………………………………..8
Legs and Toes………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Total: 100 points

 

[BamaChicken]

On breeding them. If they are related or not you won't know until you breed what will happen.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Okay. I will breed them and see what I get. I think that they are very nice buffs. They look different in person than in the pictures.