Friendly Breeds in Silver?

[BrindleFinch]

I wasn't really sure where to put this... but could anyone recommend me breeds / hatcheries or breeders that produce good examples of those breeds that come in silver varieties that are very friendly?

I know it's a bit too late to be trying to get breeds and colors I want now, especially from online hatcheries, but in the future if I enjoy chicken keeping I will likely want to move to keeping all one breed. I've got a variety of breeds coming in for this year, but if I keep on with chicken keeping I would like to expand and maybe start breeding someday down the line.

I'm really digging the silver sebrights, and silver laced wyandottes/cochins. Unfortunately, it seems cochin roos have really big combs and that probably won't do for upstate NY. Wyandottes and Sebright roos seem to have smaller combs than cochin roos, but I'm not sure if they're small enough.

I'm just wondering if there's any breeds out there that I'm glancing over, or breeds that I've seen but might not have noticed they come in silver. Any hatchery or breeder suggestions are welcome as well! Gotta start planning earlier for next year.

My goals for breeding would be, in order:
+Friendliness
+Cold hardiness
+Enhancing the silver coloration
+Dual purpose; okay layers, okay meat birds.

Thank you very much for any help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My cochins don't get frostbite on their combs like other breeds do. The combs aren't as big, and the head has fluffier feathers to help keep the comb warmer, so don't count them out. I'm in Wisconsin, we get pretty cold in the winter.

Silver laced Wyandotte are nice fairly productive birds.

Seabrights are flighty and smaller, and will lose body heat faster than a fluffy Cochin.

I think per your list the cochins or Wyandotte are your best options. I would try some of both, wait I already have.

 

[3riverschick]

Light Sussex.
They are wheaten based silver. (Light brown egg)
Their formula is the same as the Columbian Marans. ( Dark brown egg) this variety was recreated using a Marans cock over a Light Sussex hen.
Both above breeds are eWh/eWh S/S Co/Co.
pure Wheaten allele; pure Silver; with 2 doses of the Columbian gene to push Black color to the extremeties.
Only other Silver Wheaten breed I know of is the Black-Tailed Japanese. It looks like the first two birds but without the Black hackle.
( Don't know color of egg).
Best,
Karen

 

[RhodeRunner]

Do you like the silver penciled fowl? If so, you can add Silver Penciled Rocks, Wyandottes, and Dark Brahmas to your list.

If friendly is higher in priority look to the Asian breeds. If dual-purpose is higher then the Rocks and Wyandotte.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks are very friendly/docile. Cold hardy but do sport a single comb so males will experience frostbite on tine tips of comb; never had a hen with frost and live on the Canadian border. Wyandotte in laced or penciled are also a good dual purpose bird. I've no personal experience with them but hear they are on the noisy side. Their rose comb makes for no frostbite if your coop is properly ventilated. Cochin are a larger bird than these two and lay less eggs.

Whatever your choice I strongly suggest going with a breeder. You simply will not get good representation of breeds from hatcheries. The Silver color being your priority you certainly don't want hatchery birds. Just take a google image search of Silver Laced Wyandotte and you'll quickly see the poor coloration of many images and you know these are from hatchery stock.

I raise the Silver Penciled Rocks. Very well behaved birds, have no worries of my 5 year old around the cock birds. High tendency to brood, each hen will attempt to brood twice and even three times from spring to fall. A cage for breaking the brood is necessary or your egg production will plummet. Otherwise breeder stock provide 5 eggs per week. This variety is on the small side of standard but tend to flesh out quickly opposed to standard bred Barred Rock variety which are lanky young and mature slowly. If you go this breed PM me and I can direct you to breeders. Hortsman will ship chicks, in large fowl he carries Silver Pencilled Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte and Silver Dorking.

 

[Bruce315]

I’m looking for a start in silver pencil rocks but can’t seem to find a breeder that cares to respond to phone calls or emails. I’m willing to pay nicely for a trio or even chicks if they are from a good line. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks b Nelson 334-343-3350 text please

 

[Egghead_Jr]

What state are you in?

Looked up your area code, Alabama I assume. I'll look around and see what's near you.

 

[Bruce315]

What state are you in?

Looked up your area code, Alabama I assume. I'll look around and see what's near you.

Yes L.A. lower Alabama thanks a lot there hard to find!

 

[SueT]

I have a Sebright and she gets very cold in the winter. They are tiny and not at all fluffy, so don't hold onto body heat as well.
How about Silver Spangled Appenzeller Spitzhaubens? They are originally from Switzerland, so they are bred for the cold. They have crests and V combs. They are very friendly birds...I got mine from Cackle Hatchery.

 

[Bruce315]

Yes Alabama . Thanks for the help