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Whelp the first Bantan Cochin/SilkieX chick entered the world today a day early. 21 days is set for the 19th and 20th. With those eggs peeping we found ourselves with 5 broodies this am so we culled the broodies down to the 2 most dominant hens who have also been our longest sitters then locked...

Not I. Mine wont even roost they just huddle together on their coop floor.

Here is the other guy "Buster" he has washed out ear coloration and a comb virtually devoid of any creases. The two cockerels culled to their own pen have really bright red combs and wattles. They also have those hard feathers from the CochinX with them.

So today, out of 10 eggs with 3 broodies... I tossed 3 clears. Hatch day will be the 19th and 20th. This is Bill(Cull Bill), as you can see he has at least two major silkie detractors(Feathering, and his deformed beak). However, he is the cockerel with the nicest disposition and I have two in...

Well I could only spot that one potential "flaw" per the American SOP, and it just might not be a real thing at all(those snaps might not represent them accurately). It just appears like that to my eye and I would love them in my flock as they hands down surpass the quality of my Silkies. Cheers!

I got my "show quality" mongrels from a local breeder off of craigslist. Only one with a decent comb and 1/4th or so are hard feathered. We still like them all and I do not care about showing vs. having pets. So still happy with them. @Fur-N-Fowl have you seen these guys with your own eyes...

Ok this one is a hard nut to crack for my eye. The tail angle does not match my cockerels tail angles, nor does the comb development. The only thing I see suggesting that bird is a cockerel is your report of the learning to crow.

Well here is where one of my silkies cockerels is at 7.5 months of age. I mention him as he does have streamers I do not trim that part of the silkie as it doesn't interfere with their vision. Streamers are impossible to detect on him, but the hackle feathers are very well defined. I chose this...

I think you only need to wait another 4-5 weeks and those head streamers and hackle feathers will give you the correct answer.

Ok, "Cull Bill" wasn't thriving in the bachelor pad with the other two dominant cockerels his smile is the major reason why he got moved there in the first place, and DW wants him back in the main pen. Bill was always a calm and watchful type who was never in the middle of any drama. He is...

The other reason we give our birds haircuts is it calms the cockerels they are less spazzy when they can actually see you 1 foot away. It makes them do chicken things better such as foraging and it generally raises their chicken IQ(but not always).

Hey all just thought I would update you on how our Silkie keeping is going.Here are 8 of our pullets with two cockerels in the mix(hatched out APR 23), this pen has a total of 2 cockerels and 11 hens. 2 pullets are currently brooding 10 eggs(today's egg cracking tests show should be 33% fertile)...

My hobby is procrastinating I could totally compete at the olympic level there. Maybe I'll get around to writing something up about it tomorrow!

I've used the MHP, basically wrap a heat pad you already own around a metal bucket in my case. I always use the low setting as that brings em up to 95F/37C. It is also very low on power consumption I can't remember if mine is rated 20 or 40W but since it isn't maxed out obviously takes less...

I love photo #1(she can see) and 3 what is the cross? OEGB? They are silkie'nuff for this thread if mine haven't been DQ'd yet.

Final thoughts, my Silkies want to free range and keeping them in a 350m2 enclosure is inhumane if you ask the birds. I have to let them out to roam. They do well at it keeping close to walls and fence structures. I just do not trust them to do it well like the other breeds we keep, that is why...

Well we gain 8 species of hawks and harriers overwinter, but yes birds of prey. I can copy and paste a birder checklist as needed. They cover 3 main types, fortunately one the "Osprey" only eats fish and I don't keep those. Here is the copy/paste: Also this list skips the road side Hawks we...

He also has a beautiful face for sure. Still I'd shave that as we have raptors from the upper 48 here all winter, sure that is my issue. Thank you for the photo share. I have to re-shave my silkie heads again this week due to the inbound raptors. That is the major thing I do not like living...

That was my research as well with frizzleXfrizzle, and that the Frazzles have a high chance of mortality.

I must admit he has such a lovely walnut comb. I am envious. Just to my knowledge they are basically the only true bantam breed out there. I have been wrong so many times in life just ask my wife. Regardless, our enjoyment of our half breed chicken doesn't come from meeting some standard. We...