5 silkies questions on gender and breeding

[DingDingChickenKing]

From what I've read, some crosses come out midway between the sizes of the parents, while some others come out much closer to one parent than the other.

I even read of one case where someone crossed two bantam breeds and the chicks grew to be standard sized chickens.

So I can't predict for sure what will happen in your case, but medium sized seems more likely than any extreme sizes.

Thank you! I just wanted to make sure they would be atleast worth eating once in a while and wouldnt come out like 1/2 the size. You can really feel the meat as the australorps are growing, they got heft compared to my leghorns.

 

[NatJ]

Thank you! I just wanted to make sure they would be atleast worth eating once in a while and wouldnt come out like 1/2 the size. You can really feel the meat as the australorps are growing, they got heft compared to my leghorns.

You won't know for sure until you raise a few and butcher them to see.

You CAN eat a chicken of any size, but I know it's frustrating to expect a big meal and have a tiny little bird instead.

 

[DingDingChickenKing]

You won't know for sure until you raise a few and butcher them to see.

You CAN eat a chicken of any size, but I know it's frustrating to expect a big meal and have a tiny little bird instead.

Over the years ive learned some tricks to just be done with it in a few minutes.
Bones annoy me. When its all bone and no meat, when the chest bone is larger than the breast. But even then i just remove the skin and feathers, slide the meat off. Its a little wasteful but we got a insane turkey vulture population. I use to throw them rabbit pieces over the hill.

Bones do have a use though, i like to make stocks and broths. So dont think im pitching half processed animals. Not wasteful, just lazy.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I do want to let you know not all Silkies are Bantams. Where did you get your silkie's? A breeder, or hatchery?

 

[DingDingChickenKing]

I do want to let you know not all Silkies are Bantams. Where did you get your silkie's? A breeder, or hatchery?

My sister hatches chicks for her kids every year, then gives them back to a hatchery or something like that. I ran over to my sisters and grabbed 5 of them. If it helps they are insanely small compared to my other girls around the same age. Half the size even if not smaller. I fear picking them up cause my hands are callused and im not sure about my grip strength.
Wife does the pasty butt checks and stuff.
The one that hatched came from a very small egg and looked like the size of a quarter when it first came out.

 

[MysteryChicken]

My sister hatches chicks for her kids every year, then gives them back to a hatchery or something like that. I ran over to my sisters and grabbed 5 of them. If it helps they are insanely small compared to my other girls around the same age. Half the size even if not smaller. I fear picking them up cause my hands are callused and im not sure about my grip strength.
Wife does the pasty butt checks and stuff.
The one that hatched came from a very small egg and looked like the size of a quarter when it first came out.

Hatcheries don't take chicks back.

Probably bantam based on your size description so far at least.

I have both Largefowl Silkies, & bantam Silkies.

 

[DingDingChickenKing]

Hatcheries don't take chicks back.

Probably bantam based on your size description so far at least.

I have both Largefowl Silkies, & bantam Silkies.

So, ill be honest. No idea what she actually does, but I'm not a huge fan of her. I kinda get the heebs and yea, when i first got them i keep describing it as saving them, which might just be the case, i got no idea.
I hope she gives them away then. Thats how she describes it, maybe its not to the hatcheries, maybe its just around. Lots of farm land.

 

[NatJ]

Hatcheries don't take chicks back.

I agree, but a quick google search shows me at least three companies in the USA that will let you rent an incubator/eggs/brooder, and they take the chicks back at the end.

OP's sister may be doing something like that.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I agree, but a quick google search shows me at least three companies in the USA that will let you rent an incubator/eggs/brooder, and they take the chicks back at the end.

OP's sister may be doing something like that.

I've never heard of that.

 

[DingDingChickenKing]

I've never heard of that.

I mean its fair enough, i dont think she'd just like, chuck them or something, but i dont think she cares or cares to know much and would easily give 1 away at a time, to others who just dont know or care to know about chickens.

Or maybe its all on the up and up and me and her's bad blood is just clouding my judgement. I'll ask her next time i talk to her who she does it for and what it all is. But i think i talk to her maybe once a year at most. Maybe more often cause her kid picked the first silkie, the white one with a black spot. So ...it is getting extra attention and being favored.

The noise is literally them complaining to be picked up and handled. They just want to be touched.
wake up
poop
eat
drink
demand attention
die for 20 minutes