showmesilkies

Hi all. I am a born and raised Missouri boy who has enjoyed having pets and animals my entire life. As a child I had a Silkie hen that was my favorite of all the chickens we had. About 10 years ago I started off with 5 white and 5 black Silkies and from there my passion grew. I searched the Internet for as much information as I could find in regards to the breed. I looked at websites of folks who raise, sell and show Silkies. I can recall admiring them and dreaming I might one day have Silkies just as amazing.

I moved back to the homestead about two years ago where I am able to raise the Silkies. Did the condo life for many years and begun to realize that it was not my way of life. Once back home here in central Missouri and between jobs I found reputable breeders searching the Internet who offered hatching eggs . I have been buying hatching eggs for a couple years now and added many more color varieties and bloodlines. Thus, spinning me into not just having Silkies for pure enjoyment and pets but actually raising them and having a quality breeding program. Still enjoying them and making each and every one a pet has not changed. I find them most amusing to watch roam around the property and lawn, eating grass and insects. I look back at photos I have from my beginnings of raising the Silkie breed and look at what I have now and I'm very pleased and thrilled because I have some amazing looking birds.

Even though I am aiming for all show quality birds and breeders I do cull unless it is absolutely necessary. Each one is likable in many ways, even though it might not have perfect feet, a huge top knot, correct coloring, or anything else that is not in the ASBC standard of perfection. The ones that are not up to standards, what I call pet quality, are not treated any less than the show quality Silkies I have. Many that I hatch that turn out to be pet quality and the extra roosters I end up with all go to loving homes or farms where they will be well cared for and appreciated for their beauty and personality. I have noticed a lot of the prize winning Silkies now days are so incredibly feathered that it is nearly impossible for them to see or breed naturally. These type of show birds much be kept in a well controlled environment and taught to know where to find their food and water. If either food or water is moved it is possible they will die of starvation or dehydrate because they are blinded by the feathering around their face and eyes. Artificial insemination must be done in order to reproduce from them as well. As pretty as these birds are I do want a bunch of birds that are limited like these birds. I do have a few that are so heavily feathered on the rump that I must trim so contact can be made to produce fertile eggs. All of my birds are allowed to free range from time to time, I think it keep them healthy and happy.

Along the way I have had some great mentors that I occasionally call on for tips, suggestions and advice. Alan & Bobbi are two great influences and I admire their work in the world of Silkies.

In addition to the Silkies I also raise Araucana bantams, Bobwhite quail and have a trio of Mandarin ducks and a pair of Ringneck x Afghan Pheasants. Those just mentioned is where the "Stuff" comes in. My primary focus is on the Silkies.

I came across the Pheasants because I like to eat them, after trying to hatch and raise two or three different times I have ended up with one pair that I am keeping for pure enjoyment.

Always fond of the small Mandarin ducks I decided in the fall of 2008 to buy a trio. I love watching them they are quite the conversation piece when company is here. I just wish they would poop less and be more tame.

Growing up around forested areas, open fields and the Missouri River it was common to hear the calls of the Bobwhite and see them daily without leaving the backyard. After years of new neighbors and domestic cats the Bobwhite population has dramatically decreased where I am at. It has been many many years since I have seen one and rarely do I even hear their call from afar. Quail too are good on the dinner table but would not think of hunting what few are around here, thus I chose to have a cage, which is rather a hutch, built and bought several Georgia Giant Bobwhite Quail from a fellow Missourian breeder. They are doing well, love to hear their calls and they have tamed quite nicely. I'm getting a few eggs a day and this year plan to hatch as many as possible to put back into the wild, eat, and will also keep some.

Now the Araucana bantams.. I was given a few of these birds from a gentleman who was wanting to just focus on the standard sized Araucanas. I got two hens and two roosters. Had no idea what I was going to do with them or if I would even like them when I first got them. I have found them to be personable and friendly with rather quirky so they are keepers! They are clean faced and rumpless. I have one 5 week old chick that has tufts that came from a breeder in Georgia. I have no intention of getting into the Araucana bantams as I have with the Silkies but would like to add a few more to what I already have.

I also have a few Guinea fowl running amuck. Only hens as I have found that the male Guinea fowl are far too aggressive towards my Silkies and I was sick and tired of finding clumps of Silkies' feathers all over the ground. The females still do a great job at keeping a hedge of protection over the Silkies that are free range.