This year in March, I was able to raise four Silkies, two d'Uccles and three Easter Eggers (and some Cornish Rocks, but that's another story) I acquired from a Tractor Supply store in town and another a little further away. Unfortunately, I lost a white Silkie cockerel in June, but the rest have all remained healthy and well. As of now, they have all integrated into the flock and the Silkies and Easter Eggers are producing eggs (and the cockerels are, well, being cockerels). The names of some of them are Little Mama (Porcelain Booted Bantam pullet), Yosemite Sam (Mille Fleur Belgian Bearded d'Uccle cockerel), Turkey-Talker (Easter Egger pullet), and Gryphon (Easter Egger pullet). The two Silkie pullets have not been named as of yet, as with the Easter Egger and Silkie cockerels.
First days-
(Easter Egger cockerel far left; white Silkie left; Gryphon far back with Little Mama snuggling underneath her; Yosemite Sam far right.)
(Easter Egger cockerel far left; white Silkie left; Little Mama center back; Turkey-Talker right)
Brooder Set-up (heat lamp hung above brooder)
After adding three more white Silkies-
Yosemite Sam (or Mr. d'Uccle)
Mille Fleur Belgian Bearded d'Uccle
About 7 months old
Yosemite Sam as a chick was quite tame, but as he grew older and matured, he has become feisty and bold. He doesn't like it a bit when one of us picks up the Silkie pullets, but seems to care less about Little Mama. Yosemite also tries to flirt with the large Buff Orpingtons and Barred Plymouth Rocks, to their dismay. His plumage is probably the most striking in the flock (and he knows it!). Big Moe, the head rooster, tolerates the little bantam if he doesn't mess with Big Moe's hens. Yosemite's large wings enable him to fly surprisingly high and long distances; if he wanted to fly onto the roof of the house, he could easily do so.
Yosemite Sam at about six days old
Little Mama
Porcelain Booted Bantam
About 7 months old
Little Mama often looks like a small dove wandering about. She is quite tame when being held, but is almost impossible to catch at times! Her size doesn't prevent her from bossing the Silkie pullets around and it also benefits her when it comes to flying. Her flight skills are even better than Yosemite's and when released from being held, can sustain short bursts of flight, even gaining altitude as she flies.
Little Mama at about six days old
Turkey-Talker
Easter Egger
About 7 months old
Turkey-Talker was named so because of a repeated turkey-like "bey-yap!" she frequently utters. She one of the tamer chickens in the flock; when I go to fill up the feeders, she will occasionally fly up and perch on them as I carry them! Turkey-Talker has one of the fluffiest beards--during wet weather, not so much. She has been giving us olive-green eggs for about a month now.
Turkey-Talker at about two weeks old
Gryphon
Easter Egger
About 7 months
Gryphon is taller than her sister and the two often stick together when foraging in the yard. She is more skittish, but sometimes is brave enough to approach me and peck at my shoes. She has been giving us bright-green eggs for about the same time as Turkey-Talker.
Gryphon (right) and Turkey-Talker (left) at almost one and a half months
The Silkie Sisters
Non-Bearded White Silkies
About 7 months
These two don't have official names yet, so stay tuned! Anyway, one of the pullets is larger than the other and has a single comb, while the smaller one has a walnut comb. The larger Silkie has already went broody, earning her the nickname "Miss Broody-pants". I was able to stop her by repeatedly removing her from the nest box over the course of a week or more, but it probably won't be long until she tries again. The smaller Silkie has shown tendencies for broodiness, but hasn't sat for more than an afternoon so far. They boss the larger Easter Eggers around, but don't mess with Little Mama. They have been giving us small cream-colored eggs for a little while now.
The larger Silkie being broody
One of the Silkies at about six days old
First days-
(Easter Egger cockerel far left; white Silkie left; Gryphon far back with Little Mama snuggling underneath her; Yosemite Sam far right.)
(Easter Egger cockerel far left; white Silkie left; Little Mama center back; Turkey-Talker right)
Brooder Set-up (heat lamp hung above brooder)
After adding three more white Silkies-
Yosemite Sam (or Mr. d'Uccle)
Mille Fleur Belgian Bearded d'Uccle
About 7 months old
Yosemite Sam as a chick was quite tame, but as he grew older and matured, he has become feisty and bold. He doesn't like it a bit when one of us picks up the Silkie pullets, but seems to care less about Little Mama. Yosemite also tries to flirt with the large Buff Orpingtons and Barred Plymouth Rocks, to their dismay. His plumage is probably the most striking in the flock (and he knows it!). Big Moe, the head rooster, tolerates the little bantam if he doesn't mess with Big Moe's hens. Yosemite's large wings enable him to fly surprisingly high and long distances; if he wanted to fly onto the roof of the house, he could easily do so.
Yosemite Sam at about six days old
Little Mama
Porcelain Booted Bantam
About 7 months old
Little Mama often looks like a small dove wandering about. She is quite tame when being held, but is almost impossible to catch at times! Her size doesn't prevent her from bossing the Silkie pullets around and it also benefits her when it comes to flying. Her flight skills are even better than Yosemite's and when released from being held, can sustain short bursts of flight, even gaining altitude as she flies.
Little Mama at about six days old
Turkey-Talker
Easter Egger
About 7 months old
Turkey-Talker was named so because of a repeated turkey-like "bey-yap!" she frequently utters. She one of the tamer chickens in the flock; when I go to fill up the feeders, she will occasionally fly up and perch on them as I carry them! Turkey-Talker has one of the fluffiest beards--during wet weather, not so much. She has been giving us olive-green eggs for about a month now.
Turkey-Talker at about two weeks old
Gryphon
Easter Egger
About 7 months
Gryphon is taller than her sister and the two often stick together when foraging in the yard. She is more skittish, but sometimes is brave enough to approach me and peck at my shoes. She has been giving us bright-green eggs for about the same time as Turkey-Talker.
Gryphon (right) and Turkey-Talker (left) at almost one and a half months
The Silkie Sisters
Non-Bearded White Silkies
About 7 months
These two don't have official names yet, so stay tuned! Anyway, one of the pullets is larger than the other and has a single comb, while the smaller one has a walnut comb. The larger Silkie has already went broody, earning her the nickname "Miss Broody-pants". I was able to stop her by repeatedly removing her from the nest box over the course of a week or more, but it probably won't be long until she tries again. The smaller Silkie has shown tendencies for broodiness, but hasn't sat for more than an afternoon so far. They boss the larger Easter Eggers around, but don't mess with Little Mama. They have been giving us small cream-colored eggs for a little while now.
The larger Silkie being broody
One of the Silkies at about six days old
