Broken feathers

[emzee]

I am getting my silkies ready for a show and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to encourage more feather growth on their feet. I have pulled out the broken feathers and am giving them a higher protein feed. Is there anything else I should be doing?

 

[emzee]

Anyone???

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Maybe PM a silkie breeder directly, like fattie, or sonoran silkies, or hattrick silkies, or any of the others on here...they're all awesome!

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

how soon is this show? you probably should be doing this stuff about 8 weeks before the show so the feathers have the time to grow back in. i know i've seen on a silkie breeder's website some tips to get prepped for showing them. i'm not sure if it was HatTrick's or somewhere else, but i am sure you would be able to find it if you searched for it.

i do know that using baby powder on their feet will help keep the poop from sticking. there is a thread about the top Silkie questions around but i haven't see it in a few weeks.

 

[emzee]

The show is in about two weeks. I know Harvest Breeze Farm has a page on preparing your chicken for a show. Do you know if you put baby powder on their feet every day, or just right before the show?

 

[iluvmychicks]

Foot feathers need at least 8 weeks to come in completely, wing feathers even longer, with that being said, if your bird has good type, is clean and in condition and few broken feathers on the feet won't hurt him/her that much. In the future I would suggest keeping your show birds on clean shavings or wire to keep them clean and conditioned. The baby powder works good especially on white birds, I put it on after they are clean and dry, around the butt, the manure just rolls off, nothing for it to stick to. Keep in mind after they are prepped for show, they always go on a deep bed of fresh shavings to stay clean.

Shari