My USA Silkies are now about 3 to 4 months old and starting to look really nice.
I currently have these hens: 2*blue, 2* splash, 1* black
and these roosters: 2 * blue,1* blue showgirl, 1*black, 1*splash (not sure if the showgirl is a rooster but looking ai its size compared to the other birds, probably is a rooster)
Keeping a blue rooster would give me in any case the 3 colors of chicks.
The blue showgirl (if it is indeed rooster) will give me (too) much showgirl chicks (50%) so I am doubting to keep it.
some questions:
1) what hen colors could I add to get a nice variety of 'pure' colors . I know buff is out of the question. But would any other color give me more variety?
2) How many roosters could I have together in the same group of 7 or 8 female birds? If they matured together, would they not keep the peace?
3) Which rooster(s) is (are) the most intresting to keep? I'm guessing blue?
4)Probably worth a seperate topic but I am trying to figure out if I should find a rooster that has a gene which would give me the possibility to see which chicks are male or female by the color genes. I think it should be possible with the cuckoo color. I am trying to figure out with this calculator: https://kippenjungle.nl/Overzicht.htm .
Strangely: a cuckoo rooster with a blue hen gives another result than the reverse combination blue rooster with cuckoo hen (this last combination would give all the rooster chicks cuckoo a pattern).
I currently have these hens: 2*blue, 2* splash, 1* black
and these roosters: 2 * blue,1* blue showgirl, 1*black, 1*splash (not sure if the showgirl is a rooster but looking ai its size compared to the other birds, probably is a rooster)
Keeping a blue rooster would give me in any case the 3 colors of chicks.
The blue showgirl (if it is indeed rooster) will give me (too) much showgirl chicks (50%) so I am doubting to keep it.
some questions:
1) what hen colors could I add to get a nice variety of 'pure' colors . I know buff is out of the question. But would any other color give me more variety?
2) How many roosters could I have together in the same group of 7 or 8 female birds? If they matured together, would they not keep the peace?
3) Which rooster(s) is (are) the most intresting to keep? I'm guessing blue?
4)Probably worth a seperate topic but I am trying to figure out if I should find a rooster that has a gene which would give me the possibility to see which chicks are male or female by the color genes. I think it should be possible with the cuckoo color. I am trying to figure out with this calculator: https://kippenjungle.nl/Overzicht.htm .
Strangely: a cuckoo rooster with a blue hen gives another result than the reverse combination blue rooster with cuckoo hen (this last combination would give all the rooster chicks cuckoo a pattern).