Which is better buff or white bantam silkie?

[ourrune]

Buff or white? Im more attracted to white and i intend to get some silkies tomorrow i have the option of getting 10 week old silkies from one place in white black or buff (i would choose white) or buff chicks that are almost 2 weeks. The buff chicks came from mchurry hatchery (i think thats the correct name its popular on here and well liked that ive seen) i read on their site they say white silkies are poor egg layers and buff silkies are hard to find and good egg layers
Why would they be any diff from each other arent they still same breed just diff color? Buff to me looks too normal and white silkies looks like a poodle. (Aww) But i am into harder to find, rare anything and if that is buff and they are better egg layers plus will probably feather out more beautifully than whatever these local silkies will im not sure what to do?

On the contrary i read somewhere on here someone said buff silkies dont lay until one year as opposed to white ones whom lay at 8 months. is there any truth to that? I originally got 2 white baby silkies from the same person whom has the 10 weekers now and they ended up boys so im trying again.their feet feathered good etc but not like ive seen some hens crests and bodies, could that solely be because theyre male?

Any thoughts on this subject buff VS white? Is there any difference in personality between buff and white? Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have had both buff and white silkies. This is just my experience: depending on where you get the silkies, will determine the personality. Some of the white silkies I had were a bit more aggressive (the roosters) and the hens more top-of the pecking order types. But other white ones I had were just the same as the buffs. I believe this is the breeding for sure. So it depends on where you get them.

I would not be able to tell you if they laid differently, as they were all in the same pen.

The buffs are more difficult to breed to get that perfect buff color, as there is always "smut" that creeps into the tail feathers (darker feathers) as the generations come and go. So breeding whites is easier to get the color correct for showing, if you are so inclined to show them. This is just my understanding from reading BYC though. If interested in showing, I would recommend you read a lot of the silkie threads on BYC.

All in all, I think the best thing to do is get both colors if you like both colors and aren't trying to breed to a specific color or keep colors separate. It makes it easier to name them when they are different colors.

Silkies are generally poor egg layers- no matter what color you choose. They go broody a LOT and stop laying during that time, of course. But they are so cute and I love them too.

To get the beautiful crests (large) I have found that it helps to go to a breeder who breeds for large crests.

Silkies tend to be slow to begin laying. I would say that for me they started around 7 months or so, and some I think even 6 months and some 8 months. I would say that would probably be what a lot of people on BYC would say from what I have read. Of course there is always the one who doesn't lay until a year has gone by but that didn't happen in my flock.

 

[ourrune]

I have had both buff and white silkies. This is just my experience: depending on where you get the silkies, will determine the personality. Some of the white silkies I had were a bit more aggressive (the roosters) and the hens more top-of the pecking order types. But other white ones I had were just the same as the buffs. I believe this is the breeding for sure. So it depends on where you get them.

I would not be able to tell you if they laid differently, as they were all in the same pen.

The buffs are more difficult to breed to get that perfect buff color, as there is always "smut" that creeps into the tail feathers (darker feathers) as the generations come and go. So breeding whites is easier to get the color correct for showing, if you are so inclined to show them. This is just my understanding from reading BYC though. If interested in showing, I would recommend you read a lot of the silkie threads on BYC.

All in all, I think the best thing to do is get both colors if you like both colors and aren't trying to breed to a specific color or keep colors separate. It makes it easier to name them when they are different colors.

Silkies are generally poor egg layers- no matter what color you choose. They go broody a LOT and stop laying during that time, of course. But they are so cute and I love them too.

To get the beautiful crests (large) I have found that it helps to go to a breeder who breeds for large crests.

Silkies tend to be slow to begin laying. I would say that for me they started around 7 months or so, and some I think even 6 months and some 8 months. I would say that would probably be what a lot of people on BYC would say from what I have read. Of course there is always the one who doesn't lay until a year has gone by but that didn't happen in my flock.

Thank you so much for your detailed information that was perfect! Do you think one 10 week and one 2 week will be okay to get along? I started thinking buff silkies were from mixing with a different breed of a chicken to get that color. The white roosters i got from this same guy were not super sweet like everyone describes so i suppose the hens will be about the same. Also probably better to get them as young as possible to handle and bond with? I am limited on the number of chickens i can keep unfortunately i cant wait to move and have more room for more chickens lol

 

[keesmom]

The 2 week old likely will not be sexable. A hatchery 10 week old might be.

 

[ourrune]

The 2 week old likely will not be sexable. A hatchery 10 week old might be.

Yeah thats true thats one of the pros to the white one i was thinking about lol