Silky gene in rollers/tipplers?

[Fbirdie82]

Hello. Does anyone know about the silky gene in rollers/tipplers? I know it is fairly common in fantails and doves. I would eventually like to get a few silky rollers or tipplers and put them on some homers to produce silky homers. I met a really nice man who was working on silky homers. His birds were beautiful, and also pretty good flyers. He didn't have time to keep up with the project so was selling them, and of course I didn't have room for more birds at that time so couldn't get any.

[george simon]

Well why would anyone in his right mind want to raise a silky homer.These birds are racers and I for do not like the idear of putting the silk gene in to a bird that is meant to race. Some of these people that are messing with genetic's are like Dr. FRANKSTEIN. .GEORGE

[LokotaLoft]

I was thinking that very same thing but didnt want to say anything but since you brought it up ,it makes no sense to me either why take away flight from a bird that was ment for the open skys

[warriec]

its just that some fancy something different, not all homers are used for racing. some keep them for the good looks & if they have silky feathers they may look better,. this is just an opinion of mine.

[Fbirdie82]

Hello. I hope I haven’t offended anyone. This is just a genetic “experiment” to see if a bird can have both silky feathers and the ability to fly home from a distance, that is all. They really do look neat, and they can still fly even if they won’t beat the birds you all have spent years and years breeding to race. I suppose it is like being Dr. Frankenstein, but if you cross them right the "hybrids" will have that hybrid vigor.

And warriec is correct, not all "homers" are raced. Some birds like the Beauty Homer and the Saddle Homer are just kept to look at. I guess these birds would mostly be for looks, but like I said they do have that ability to fly a distance and still come home.

[amoonswirl]

I don't know...
I do love silkies. I have a silky ringneck dove and he's beautiful.
But he can't fly worth a darn. Poor thing huffs and puffs to try keeping up with his non-silky flockmates, and he does crash quite often.

Personally I think it would be cruel to breed a silky that one intended to fly. Also a bit Frankenstien-ish to saddle an athletic breed with a condition that keeps it from being able to fly. (yes, technically they can fly but not much better than your average barnyard chicken...i doubt a silky homer would make it home from any distance)

IMO, Silky should be kept to show breeds like fantails who aren't interested in flying.

(also: assuming you know this already, but never breed silky with silky. the result is a "porcupine" condition where the bird ends up with quills instead of feathers - very awful)

[jbangelfish]

Originally Posted by Fbirdie82

Hello. I hope I haven’t offended anyone. This is just a genetic “experiment” to see if a bird can have both silky feathers and the ability to fly home from a distance, that is all. They really do look neat, and they can still fly even if they won’t beat the birds you all have spent years and years breeding to race. I suppose it is like being Dr. Frankenstein, but if you cross them right the "hybrids" will have that hybrid vigor.

And warriec is correct, not all "homers" are raced. Some birds like the Beauty Homer and the Saddle Homer are just kept to look at. I guess these birds would mostly be for looks, but like I said they do have that ability to fly a distance and still come home.

It's a weird gene for appearance only I guess. It does mess up the abiltiy to fly and I would steer clear of it but maybe that's just me. I think birds should be able to fly.

Bill

[george simon]

Originally Posted by Fbirdie82

Hello. I hope I haven’t offended anyone. This is just a genetic “experiment” to see if a bird can have both silky feathers and the ability to fly home from a distance, that is all. They really do look neat, and they can still fly even if they won’t beat the birds you all have spent years and years breeding to race. I suppose it is like being Dr. Frankenstein, but if you cross them right the "hybrids" will have that hybrid vigor.

And warriec is correct, not all "homers" are raced. Some birds like the Beauty Homer and the Saddle Homer are just kept to look at. I guess these birds would mostly be for looks, but like I said they do have that ability to fly a distance and still come home.

You are wrong there are people that race Saddle Homers.
I raise Saddles will be racing them next year. .GEORGE

[Grim]

I have seen saddles in flyers lofts and they have no saddled breeders.

[george simon]

Originally Posted by Grim

I have seen saddles in flyers lofts and they have no saddled breeders.

Hi GRIM, You are correct. The genes for saddle markings is in the racing homer and can pop up at any time. In the early days of the development of the racing homer one of the birds used was a saddle type (ANTWERP SMERLE) so the genes for saddles are in the racer of today.Back in the mid 1800's these Antwerp Smerle's were able to home from 500-600 miles. .GEORGE

[Fbirdie82]

I didn't say that they can't be raced. I just said that there are some that are raised for show only. Oh, and I forgot to add, his silkies looked like a very mild Frillback? But the feathers had an odd silk quality to them. They were not as severely "silky" as I believe some of you are imagining.

[MaryOfExeter]

Just don't end up with birds homozygous for silky, and I think they'll be okay. Pure silkies can look pretty rough (I personally think they are ugly), and definitely can't fly. If you can somehow manage to get just certain areas silky without messing up the flights and tail, like frillbacks, they should be able to fly just fine. Not near as quick and dependable when hawks are around, but they can get around.
If anything, they'll make pretty pets. No one said you have to fly them if they turn out being too poor fliers.