Route 99 Silkies is a small, dedicated Silkie breeding program located in Los Molinos, California, in the heart of Northern California.
My passion for animal breeding and livestock began at a very young age. My mom and I rode horses both for fun and competitively. My family raised various livestock species as I was growing up, which led me to follow my passion into animal science in college, working as a vet tech for a mixed animal practice while I got my Bachelors in Animal Science.
In 2020, my husband and I bought our first home right in the middle of prime ag country. Shortly after, my mom gave me 10 silkies and a little coop in what would be my first real flock of my own. We watched these fun birds grow, encountered various challenges along the way, learned continuously and ultimately decided to hatch some chicks from our little flock. One hatch turned into 2, turned into 3, turned into multiple incubators running at the same time, brooders being built, more coops brought in, and an explosion of what could only be chicken math at its worst! From there, we honed in and decided to turn this passion into a business. What started as a love for these unusual little birds has grown into a breeding program built around a simple idea:
Better birds come from better breeding decisions.
The more we learned about Silkies, the more we realized just how much there is beneath those fluffy feathers. Genetics, structure, color, fertility, health, temperament, and breeding combinations all play a role in what the next generation becomes.
And that curiosity changed the way we approached our flock.
We didn't want to simply hatch more birds.
We wanted to understand why we were producing the birds we were producing—and how we could consistently improve them.
Why We Breed
There is something incredibly rewarding about watching a breeding program develop over generations.
Every pairing is a decision. Every hatch provides information. Every chick gives you another piece of the puzzle.
We carefully manage our breeding pens and continually evaluate our birds and our results. We pay attention to the traits we're trying to preserve, the traits we're trying to improve, and the genetics behind both.
We believe good breeding isn't about chasing every color or producing as many chicks as possible.
It's about having a plan.
It's about knowing your birds.
And it's about being willing to learn from every generation.
The Reality of Building a Flock
One thing we've learned along the way is that breeding animals will humble you.
Not every hatch goes perfectly. Not every pairing produces what you expected. Genetics don't always follow the plan, and sometimes the best lessons come from the things that didn't work.
We've experienced the excitement of great hatches, the frustration of unexpected results, and the endless questions that come with trying to understand why something happened.
Those experiences have shaped the way we breed today.
We believe in keeping records, asking questions, researching the answers, and continually looking for ways to do things better.
We're not interested in pretending we know everything.
We're interested in learning more.
From Breeding Birds to Understanding Genetics
That desire to understand our own flock eventually led to something beyond Route 99 Silkies.
Gen99 Lab was created from the belief that breeders should have access to better information about the genetics they're working with.
DNA testing can provide answers that visual evaluation alone simply can't.
Instead of guessing, breeders can use genetic information as another tool when making decisions about their flocks.
Gen99 Lab is an extension of the same philosophy that drives Route 99 Silkies:
Know more. Make better decisions. Breed better birds.
Our goal is to make genetic testing approachable and useful for breeders who want to take a more informed approach to their programs and to make it affordable and available for backyard keepers who cant keep roosters in their neighborhoods but who want to share in the delight that is the chicken world.
Sharing What We Learn
As our own breeding program has grown, so has our desire to share what we're learning.
That's why we created our Learning Center.
There is an incredible amount of information available on the internet but there is also a lot of misinformation, conflicting advice, and outdated ideas.
We want our blog to be a place where breeders and flock owners alike can find practical information about Silkies, breeding, genetics, chick care, flock management, and the things we encounter along the way.
Some of what we share comes from research.
Some comes from experience.
And some comes from learning the hard way.
We think all of it has value.
Where We're Going
Route 99 Silkies is still growing, and we're nowhere near finished.
Our flock continues to evolve. Our breeding goals continue to develop. And we're constantly learning more about the genetics and traits that make these birds so fascinating.
Our vision is to build a breeding program that combines the things we value most:
Quality birds.
Thoughtful breeding.
Good information.
Responsible flock management.
And a willingness to keep learning.
We want the birds leaving our program to contribute something valuable to the flocks they join—and we want the people who purchase from us to feel confident about what they're bringing home.
More Than a Silkie Farm
At the end of the day, Route 99 Silkies isn't just about selling chicks or hatching eggs.
It's about building something.
A flock.
A breeding program.
A community of breeders.
And a better understanding of the genetics behind the birds we love.
We're excited to share the journey—the successes, the experiments, the lessons, and occasionally the things that absolutely did not go according to plan.
Because that's what breeding is.
You never stop learning.
Better Birds. Smarter Breeding.
Welcome to Route 99 Silkies.