Would a Showgirl expert mind telling me if they're good layers?

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I've been to Henderson's Henderson's Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart, but obviously Showgirls aren't listed there - I see the Naked-necks and the silkies listed, but no SGs. I've also posted on the SG thread and searched the forums for a post about how SGs lay. (FYI - don't google "how good to showgirls lay" bc you get more than you bargained for

).

One day I WILL own a showgirl regardless of how well she lays, but I'd love to read up on how they fall in the 'egg laying spectrum' of chicken breeds. A Naked-neck is listed as an avg to above avg layer, but a silkie is listed as a poor layer.... so how do the SG's roll?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!!!!!

 

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

Of course I search for 2 days and find nothing and then minutes after I posted this I found the showgirl breed link on BYC - https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/showgirl and it says their egg productivity is high. Question answered I suppose! lol

 

[nicalandia]

they Can´t be good layers, the are silkies, they will go broody over a lemon...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

they Can´t be good layers, the are silkies, they will go broody over a lemon...

Not until they have eaten it!

Seriously, though, my silkies lay as often as (or more often in several cases) my other breeds. Until they go broody, lol. Then they ain't laying for nuthin! Some birds will lay more or less than others.

 

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I know laying habit vary from chicken to chicken, but just like it's safe to say that a BO or a RIR will probably be a good layer.... is it not safe to say that a SG will also be a good layer? I'm interested as to if they have the naked-neck laying characteristics or the Silkie laying characteristics.... Hmmmm......

Also, do you think one would gel well in a very small flock with some big girls? (BO and BR)

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If the showgirls are anything like my silkies, they will keep the orpingtons and rocks in line, and they will soon learn to say "Yes Ma'am!" to whatever the littler ladies want.

Realize that showgirls are bred back to silkies over and over, but not back to naked necks. If you were to end up with a first generation cross, then yes, they might have more of the characteristics of the naked neck. But when the naked neck is many generations in the past, and their only characteristic that has been bred for is lack of neck feathers, most of the silkie characteristics will be the ones present in te birds.

 

[4hchickmama]

Not until they have eaten it!

Seriously, though, my silkies lay as often as (or more often in several cases) my other breeds. Until they go broody, lol. Then they ain't laying for nuthin! Some birds will lay more or less than others.

One of my silkies reliably lays me 5-7 eggs a week! The other one went broody over a 10 week old sebright chick and won't lay squat.

I've heard that most Showgirls are decent layers. But then again I've heard that silkies are poor layers and mine, when not going broody, lay pretty darn well.

I think it does also matter where in the generation you are. An F1 cross between a silkie and a turken is going to have more chance of getting those turken egg laying qualities than say an F2 bred back to a silkie.

But like Sonoran (btw...you have gorgeous birds) said, it really depends on the bird.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I think part of the problem is the connotation of what makes a good layer. Some birds lay seasonally, or even at their most prolific only every few days. To my mind those are not good layers, because even under the best of circumstances they do not lay regularly. Birds that lay regularly, but go through bouts of broodiness when they don't lay are a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Some people simply want the statistic of the average number of eggs per year. In my mind that tells only part of the story.

 

[4hchickmama]

I think part of the problem is the connotation of what makes a good layer. Some birds lay seasonally, or even at their most prolific only every few days. To my mind those are not good layers, because even under the best of circumstances they do not lay regularly. Birds that lay regularly, but go through bouts of broodiness when they don't lay are a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Some people simply want the statistic of the average number of eggs per year. In my mind that tells only part of the story.

I agree completely.

 

[blessedchick]

I am by no means an expert but I have an F1 Showgirl that lays 5-7 times per week - easily. My SG's and Silkies mingle just great with my big girls! I also agree with Sonoran ~ they really rule the roost!