09/26/2026
Excellent information! ❤️
How do you know when you should buy a Silkie or Satin for your program? What makes a bird "good enough?" How do you know when someone is selling you a junk bird or overcharging for a mediocre one and taking advantage of your inexperience?
When we're starting out, it's really hard to know this. We havent developed our "eye" for conformation yet, and we can't yet see all the finer points we should be looking for. So how do we navigate that? Let's talk about what does and doesn't confer value in a breeding bird prospect.
Leave your own tips below!
First, the easy ones. What DOESN'T make a bird valuable?
🧝♂️ Big Breeder Name:
It doesn't matter who bred it, a junk bird is a junk bird and it won't help your program to remind the chicks to look nice because their parent was bred by a Master Breeder. We have all seen, unfortunately, some very well known breeders sell pet quality birds for show bird prices to unsuspecting newbies who think they're getting something special. Base your decision on the bird, not the name. If its a duck foot split wing pointy tail with giant waddles, its not a good bird, no matter who's name is on it. Don't waste your money, and more importantly, your time.
🔖 Price Tag:
A hefty price Tag makes it feel like a bird is "worth" more, but again, a junk bird is a junk bird. No matter what the price tag is, look at the bird. If someone won't take photos and you don't know them well, no matter how popular they seem, don't buy the bird. You can't evaluate what you can't see. There are breeders I'd trust to put anything in box sight unseen and send it to me, but it took years to develop those relationships.
So if we can't rely on a big name and the price tag to know what's worth buying, what CAN we rely on?
📸 Transparency:
Look for listing where the breeder is openly communicating. They have posted photos of the bird, and they can be reached to give you info. Lots if breeders get flooded with requests, so let's also be mindful to have a couple of questions and reasonable requests.
🧑🦳 Mentors:
When we're still learning how to judge type, its SUPER helpful to run it by someone more experienced. Ask them if they think the bird is worth the price tag, and if it will help your outcomes. If you don't know anyone, feel free to run it by me. I don't know everything yet either, but definitely more than I did!
📚 Study:
Buy a copy of the SOP, and learn it. Study it. Look at pictures of show birds, and put intention into developing your "eye." Learn what is a DQ, and look up what it looks like. This will help you avoid buying a bird with a trait that could set you back or keep you from being great.
✅️ Prioritize:
It's tempting to try to find the "perfect" bird, but some things are more important than others. New folks tend to focus on toes. Unless they've got a DQ (duckfoot) or 17 toes, toe spacing and extra nubs are the least of your worries. Learn what a good WING looks like and don't start with bad ones, and you'll be light years ahead of your peers. In Silkies, pay attention to the texture and fall of the cushion. Pointy tails and hard, stiff tail feathers will haunt you forever. Also, look for traits that balance your existing birds. Bonnet crests can improve small ones and vice versa.
💰Be a Breeder, not a Buyer:
There are two different hobbies - buying pretty birds, and MAKING pretty birds. Don't be afraid of imperfection! Even if you've made buying mistakes already and have birds with faults - IT'S OK. We're learning and growing in our craft, and breeding is about shaping what we want to see. Its not as much fun to buy perfect birds and just hatch them. Remember who you are, and what you're here for!
Pic of our pretty Self Blue cockerel, who is both beautiful and imperfect.
