We can get free bricks from our builders, they're a bit broken but most are whole. I was thinking of building a chook coop where the bottom and maybe 60cm or so up is fully brick - to keep out mice, rats, foxes, etc - and then having wood for the coop and mesh for the run. Wood for the coop...
This chick hatched yesterday. Basic info: dad is silkie, mum is probably silkie (might be australorp x but it'd be weird if a australorp hatched such a small chick). Chick is half the size of the other chicks, not fluffy and has an enormous head. Photos attached of body and feather type, as well...
I had a few silkie chicks born with white beaks. Does this mean they will have red combs when older? The chicks range from white to black (or looks black, probably blue). One roo had a very red comb, and the other two were a dark red, almost black. Mums all had black combs.
Could anyone post a photo of a chicken (silkie if possible) with a long back vs a short back? I'm not sure whether mine are long or short and can't find any images online.
I got two Australorps late November/early December last year because they were being bullied in their original flock. One hen had an entirely bare tail/back (and the skin is red, although this might be because of the sun - Aussie heat). I thought this was because she was being bullied but now...
I have silkies and occasionally (maybe every 2-3 weeks) one will be broken - usually the bottom is intact and there's a large-ish hole in the top. Do you think this is one of the hens or maybe a rat? It only happens when I leave eggs in their nesting boxes, when I'm collecting them to incubate...
My silkies are getting too hot - they are panting and raising their wings. Also, some have been sitting in a corner (I don't know if this is the heat, but it is weird) They're not all too hot, maybe around 4 out of 13?
They have shade in the 'coop' (it's basically a shed with mesh sides where...
Hi, I am trying to work out how to minimise food bought in bags, for environmental reasons, for future chickens. I am wanting to buy some Silkie chickens to breed and raise as pets to sell. Would like to have 3 or 3 hens and a rooster - the paddocks vary in size but will probably move every week...
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
My mum breeds turkeys and has crossbred chooks for chickens, but I haven't kept or bred any personally yet.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
None yet
(3) What breeds do you have?
I am looking at getting Silkie chickens...