Show Silkie Pics

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Here's a half decent informative site which explains the British standards of what's accepted and what's not plus faults too:

https://poultrykeeper.com/blog/exhibiting-silkies-the-breed-standard/

So if anyone wants to have something to compare the SOP it's a decent read!

 

[FishMtFarm]

OP, I think you white female is the best with your white roo second best. His comb is nice but his comb would be better if it was a bit darker. I honestly would still try showing him as he is quite lovely. The third is lacking in crest and confirmation but still a very beautiful bird.

 

[Cyprus]

*DISCLAIMER* The photos below are for non profit educational use. They do not constitute a large enough portion of the text as a whole to cause loss of market value to the product.

Ideally, your silkies could all use more volume to their crests, more volume to their bodies and heavier foot feathering. The wings should be tucked up high when folded. In accordance with the standard, your birds desire a fuller hackle and fluffier cushion. We're looking for an overall broad, filled bird that could fit inside a circle if you were to imagine drawing one around their body.

Credit to the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection Forty Fourth Edition

 

[NNYchick]

I agree from what I see in the white hen and rooster have potential. I see dark undertones in his comb not bright red and depending on color some judges give a little leeway on how light the comb can be. I remember seeing a post from Marty about it on the ASBC forum. I’ll have to try to dig through the forum see if I can find what colors he mentioned.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

The first step to a show quality bird is to not be disqualified. If your bird doesn’t have any disqualifications, it has a chance of winning a prize, depending on the competition, especially at small shows. The best way to know show quality is to compare the bird (not just a photo of it) to each point in the APA SOP because that’s how the judges decide placings. I pearsonally think the first white silkie looks good.

 

[NNYchick]

The first step to a show quality bird is to not be disqualified. If your bird doesn’t have any disqualifications it has a chance of winning a prize, depending on the competition, especially at small shows. The best way to know show quality is to compare the bird (not just a photo of it) to each point in the APA SOP because that’s how the judges decide placings.

I agree from everything I have seen. It can depend on the judges interpretation of the standard and how the points rack up compared to the birds in the other cages that day. Remember no bird perfectly meets the standard but your goal is no DQ and least amount of points for faults.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Another thing to check on your birds is split wing. That is a big DQ and once it’s bred into your flock, it’s hard to remove. Open the wings up and if you have a gap in the primary fight feathers then you have split wing. Here is an example on a buff silkie.

View attachment 1895142

I appreciate all the nice comments on my short lived breeding flock. In unfortunately could not keep predators at bay not matter how tight I made my runs and coops. Then I had someone on here who bought from me, and two months later filed a claim against me saying I sold her a sick bird. After doing a little research and a lot of legal battle with her, I won cause I found a post on here from her that she had Mareks disease in her flock, before she even bought from me. Needless to say she caused me a lot of BS and grief and made me not wanna deal with breeding and selling. Only takes one jerk.

Due to what you said in the quoted post above about somone complaining about you selling a 'ill' chicken, I've decided to create an agreement form for buyers of my chicks and hatching eggs for that very reason.

It got me worrying thinking it could quite easily happen and could spoilt the whole experience like it did for you.

Some buyers may see it as being extreme but if they don't want to sign it then it'll be a no sale!

My birds are sold in good health and it only takes on person to introduce them into a sick flock and say it was the bird I sold that caused it.

I'm going down the route of getting frequent tests done on my flock which I can show results to potential buyers.

Thankyou for bringing it up!

 

[Cyprus]

I've decided to create an agreement form for buyers of my chicks and hatching eggs for that very reason

I'm doing the same starting next season.
A full, written contract covering everything possible that the buyer has to electronically sign. No ifs ands or buts. No signature, no eggs or birds.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I'm doing the same starting next season.
A full, written contract covering everything possible that the buyer has to electronically sign. No ifs ands or buts. No signature, no eggs or birds.

Yes it's a great idea!

I guess it really can help when somone says otherwise.

Mine pretty much covers the complains/issues people are most likely to bring up.

I've pretty much stated all birds are in good Heath when purchased and the buyer is responsible for its health once it's left my property. Also things for hatching eggs in the fact that I can't guarantee completely what Chicks will be like, sexes, behaviour and so on.

I also have them agree that they understand how to care for chicks/chickens and keep them in good health.

I recommend that they quarantine all chicks/chickens for 30 days as basic good husbandry!

 

[Cyprus]

Yes it's a great idea!

I guess it really can help when somone says otherwise.

Mine pretty much covers the complains/issues people are most likely to bring up.

I've pretty much stated all birds are in good Heath when purchased and the buyer is responsible for its health once it's left my property. Also things for hatching eggs in the fact that I can't guarantee completely what Chicks will be like, sexes, behaviour and so on.

I also have them agree that they understand how to care for chicks/chickens and keep them in good health.

I recommend that they quarantine all chicks/chickens for 30 days as basic good husbandry!

That's pretty much exactly what mine will say, but with more detail. Such as:

-You, the buyer, agree to pay attention to the health of any birds you recieve from me and to treat them by any means within your power to do so. I, the seller, am not responsible for the death of any birds bought from me due to lack of proper husbrandy practices on your property.
-The buyer agrees to quarantine any live poultry bought from me for a minimum of 2 weeks out of direct content with any existing flocks. The quarantined birds will have access to fresh food and water. Sterile equipment and proper biosecurity measures will be used during quarantine to prevent the spread of disease. The seller is not responsible for any disease or harm that is caused by the buyer not following a proper quarantine procedure.
-The buyer hereby signifies that the poultry they purchased from (insert farm name) were visibly and certifiably healthy upon receipt.

And so on