California - Northern

[SpringPeeper]

Can you tell what breed my son is partial to? My daughter liked them in pictures when she was his age, but when she first saw one she decided it was 'creepy'.


My son was very concerned about them being out in the rain. I normally don't let him around roosters, but once in a while I will let him hold this one while I am right next to him. He is fearless and wants me to let all my roosters free range while he is out with the flock, but he is low enough to the ground to get spurred in the face and I am a paranoid mom.

 

[joydix]

thanks very much for the directions as well!

 

[ronott1]

This is why I wait to buy a Silkie until she is 4 to 5 months old when it is easier to ID males from females or pay the $25 DNA fee to test them while they're chicks and get results in about 4 weeks. That way you can bring home from a breeder a one-month-old definitely sexed chick but I still prefer to choose an older juvenile because that way you can pick out the ones with the pretty crests or nice feathered feet or the personality calmness or spunkiness you prefer in the Silkie. We picked a pretty little Black Silkie at our local feed store that had a customer who brought in a dozen juveniles of mixed sexes and colors. There were two female Partridge girls to choose from which was what I intended to buy so we'd have 2 Partridges together but when we saw two Black full-crested girls with full feathered feet we HAD to go home with one of them instead!!!


We fell in love with this little Black Silkie and she's our smallest and spunkiest chicken in our flock.





Our Partridge is our 5-yr-old and she was stripped bald of her crest by a cannibalistic Marans which we had to re-home. The Partridge comb was also chewed off. Luckily most of her crest came back but never as full again. After this incident we re-homed all our dual-purpose and heavier hens and only keep 5-lb-&-under docile/timid breeds to keep with our gentle Silkies. We don't have the biggest eggs any more but we are not disappointed in the large size and production from the Silkies in spite of their broody tendencies. These little guys really crank out the biggest bantam eggs when they're not broody!!!!





Partridge at 6-months before her crest/comb was cannibalized by the mean Marans.


Partridge after being cannibalized.


The little Black Silkie feathers look fuller because she was not abused/cannibalized the way the poor little Partridge had been.

yes it only took a couple of days for me. i sent to a place in davis i think....

Was the testing through CAHFS?

 

[Sylvester017]

Was the testing through CAHFS?

Sorry, I never bought a DNA Silkie because I like to see how well they look at 4 or 5 mo-old before I invest in one. Norco's Amber Waves Silkies is where I first heard about DNA testing for $25 and then I read someone else on a BYC thread who said they got results in 4 weeks but I couldn't tell you what organization was used for the testing

.

 

[jared82]

I'm in so. Cal. ...Lytle creek. .north of Fontana

 

[ronott1]

I'm in so. Cal. ...Lytle creek. .north of Fontana

Welcome!

 

[SunnyDawn]

SunnyDawn,
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. Stay strong! And I hope you can find some time to take care of yourself, as well.

Thank you! That is so sweet of you. I am going to try and find some Sunny time soon. LOL I know it's important.

 

[h2oratt]

Question:
My chicken is acting like something is wrong with her foot. She is keeping it raised at rest. She will walk on it. I inspected it and I don't see anything wrong It is not swollen. My husband said he saw her limping. I haven't seen her limping. Anything else I can do for her?

 

[joydix]

have you picked her up and taken a good look at it with a light? what does it feel like? any swollen areas? if you can wash it off with warm water and soap and see if she has a thorn?

 

[h2oratt]

Yes my husband bright her in yesterday morning. Her feet were clean. I could see nothing. I compared the right foot to the left. Could see no difference. Checked the pads they looked normal. She is my biggest hen. She is a cuckoo Maran from mcmurrays. Was reading in the learning center last night about foot problems. Guess we will check it again when my husband gets home.