BREEDING SILKIES - ADVICE PLEASE!

[Anonymous]

One of my silkie 'hens' has started crowing :lol: However I am blessed with very understanding neighbours so luckily I think I'll be able to keep him.

So I thought why not have a go at breeding them this summer. Pickle the cockerel is red, he has 4 girlfriends: 2 black, 1 blue & 1 gold.

Any advice on how I go about this would be gratefully received I especially want to know what sort of colours I can expect to end up with. Many thanks

 

[Anonymous]

From reading this forum it seems silkies are quite hard to sex. David seems like an expert on Silkies (and most things actually) so hopefully he will read this. Sometimes though I think it is alot of fun not knowing what colour will hatch.

 

[Davidd]

Hello, it will depend on how your cockerel/hens are bred- the chicks will be mostly black- some gold/partridge.
The hens will lay a few eggs-with silkies its normally only about a dozen or so then will go broody
You will need a separate coop for each broody hen so the others dont lay in with her or disturb her.
regards, David

 

[ncotb]

check out this colour calciulator http://kippenjungle.nl/Overzicht.htm#kipcalculator

though as David says it does depend how your bird is bred, as some colours are more dominant.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your help My birds are still quite young & just coming into maturity now so fingers crossed for later in the year. In-laws have offered me the use of their broody coop when I need it so will let you all know how I get on & what colours I end up with!

 

[victorias poultry]

ood luck with your hatching project, silkies are so sweet!!