Yet another question......silkie X's

Rubberparrot · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 10:23 am

Hi Country Lodge
I've actually yet to even acquire any silkies though I've found a breeder who's only a short long (if that make sense as opposed to the others a long long distance :-D

) distance away with white and buff hens and roo's.
My Langshan is black (I didn't realize they came in other colours) and I also have a langsham cross something she has a grey and white collar sort a like a reverse columbian and is a third again larger the the pure girl the breeder chucked her in for nothing as apparently she was useless to him so god only knoiw what those chicks would look like.
Shanna

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 1:09 pm

There is a great little article on crossbreds called "Designer Chickens" in the new Australasian Poultry magazine that I got today!

Deb :-D

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 1:19 pm

Sorry Shanna, just saw your other post with the questions.

I only have a funny silver/grey silkie rooster with a bit of red on his wings so I am going to try him over my white, black & partridge hens to see what happens. This will be my first breeding season as the boy is only young so I can't help much with colour suggestions. You can either have a bit of a "melting pot" (like I've got) or go for straight colour breeding - which again, will make sale of any babies easier as you can guarantee parentage to a certain extent.

I have mostly handraised parrots - a galah, major mitchell, gang gang, sun conure and a pair of cockatiels in our big aviary. We also have a new pair of young king parrots that we have kept inside to get used to us and they are now ready to go out except it is now so cold I think I'll keep them inside until spring. We also have a pair of scarlet chested parrots that I'm hoping will breed for us this year. The cock bird is a family heirloom (belonged to my mother-in-law's father, now deceased) so I would like to get some babies from him.

Back on topic - if you don't have to cross-breed I would think seriously about sticking to purebreds, especially if you know you don't have room for heaps of them if you can't rehome them. Silkies are lovely!

Deb :-D

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 2:46 pm

I have to admit I love to breed the silkie/sussex cross. Beautiful little chooks. I currently have a buff pullet left. I am going to breed my white silkie roo over a light sussex girl and should end up with lovely medium size fluffy looking light sussex with pom pom. I will keep the girls and cull the boys if I can't find homes for them.

This is in addition to my purebred silkie pen.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 3:19 pm

Do the sussex markings come through CL?

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

I have a silky x pekin hen, she is just like a white pekin in body shape & feather type, she has feathered legs & normal toe count, she has a little pom pom on her head, feathers not fluff & her skin is blue like the silkie. I was given 3 sisters & the mother, they where the best little broodies & mothers.

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

The girls will make great broodys

The boys will make good soup (not great soup, just good)

County Lodge · **Posted:** Fri May 30, 2008 5:55 pm

debbieo4914 wrote:

Do the sussex markings come through CL?

Hi Deb, Yes they do. I don't have any at the moment to put up photos. I have a buff silkie/light sussex cross from a cockerel I sold and didn't realize he was fertile. Very pretty little pullet and I have heard the silkie/sussex cross is on of the best broodys around.

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Still in the flavour of the topic

I have a freind near Nanango who breeds Silkie Sussex crosses , He uses them as broodies as well , They are nice looking birds :lol:

He keeps them to hatch his turkeys and peafowl .

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

bunyanuternie wrote:

The girls will make great broodys

The boys will make good soup (not great soup, just good)

Spot on Ian. That cross is popular with breeders looking for excellent broodies as they are one of the best brooders. The cross gives the hens the best of both breeds making them idea to brood almost any breed of eggs. We use 12 silkie x pekin hens and we will prefer them for the rare's eggs over the rest of our broodies.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

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