Haircuts for silkies- before & after pics & how I know when they need it

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WhisperingOaks

WhisperingOaks

Chirping
Jul 18, 2016
131
52
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I have silkies with my mixed flock and have tried many ways to keep their head and cheek poofs out of their eyes. I now use a battery powered clipper for hair- they seem to really not mind too much and usually just close their eyes, hunker down and let me give them a buzz cut. When do I know they need a trim? 1) If I can see that the feathers are getting in their eyes, especially the cheek feathers. 2) If they stop roosting. They don't roost way up high but they do like to get on the lower roosts and if they can't see they stay on the floor. As soon as I get them clipped up they start roosting again.
Before
700

After
700
 
Wow! That looks really good. I have a sultan hen who's feathers have grown out over her eyes, and I was trying to figure out how to clip her feathers. Looking forward to trying this!
goodpost.gif
 
That does look really good. I trim my polish with a scissor, every time I do a nice round poof a few feathers grow out to make them uneven, drives me nuts.
 
They really do not mind too much- they close their eyes and pretty much let me comb their feathers with the clipper blade. I had used scissors in the past but I was clumsy and it seemed dangerous, even with blunt bandage scissors. I have to clip them maybe twice a year but really just wait for them to tell me they need a trim. With 14 silkies it is a very small chore.
 
Excellent!!
I always felt sorry for these birds not being able to see, can cause a lot of problems, including their health and possible death.
Kudos for finding and implementing a solution!
 
Many folks assume silkies are dumb when it is obscured vision (from crests & muffs) that are the reason. Once their crests etc. are cut back, their IQ soars. Humans would be hesitant and appear slow & clumsy, if they had curtains over their eyes.
 

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