Concerning silkies, am I the only person in America

[robin416]

I don't know where you all get the idea Silkies don't lay. If my crowd is any indication they don't let anything stop them. Not extreme temps or the dead of winter. I don't think there are many breeds that are more dependable to provide eggs year round as the Silkies.

To the poster who mentioned not liking the "bearded" Silkies, what you saw was probably the non-bearded. The non-beardeds do not have all of the poof on their heads or around their faces.

Its not up to me to convince anyone to like or dislike a particular breed of anything. I can tell you I've had a ball with my birds while they continually lay eggs, brood eggs and raise healthy chicks.

I could also make a huge list of breeds I don't like but that's something I don't feel is necessary to post.

 

[Windy Ridge]

I do hope you're right, although I'm sure it depends on the individual and the strain, of course. I just know they have the reputation of being so broody, I'm half afraid my little girl is going to lay three eggs and then try to growl me out of the nest!

I do want to take advantage of her broodiness, but I won't be ready with eggs I want to hatch until the spring. (It'll be too cold here for little ones for the next few months!) Does anyone find that their Silkies get broody in the spring and summer, or can it often happen in the dead of winter, too?

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Remember all that was the original question. The thread
drifted a bit but I'm laughing pretty hard reading it.

Seedcorn, the answer to your question is no, you're not the only one.

 

[bantymum]

My my my, What have I been missing whilst I was cooking for a dinner party tonite!!!!
You lot have rocks in your heads!!!!
Theres a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock!!!(thats an aussie saying for rocks in your heads)
Haha im only kidding!!!you know I love yous all!

I love my little fluffballs, They are such easy going little girls who lay the quaintest little eggs, I use 3 for eggs on toast. They lay really well and are always first to start laying after the no lay periods.
Because they look so innocent they are very popular with newbie families with small children, they look non threatening and the appeal is so great here that the poultry society president phoned me to ask when mine would be ready to sell, as he said" the second call i get each day is for people wanting silkies!!"He cant understand it but I can. He calls them useless little things. I dont bite back but forgive him as he doesnt know what he is missing. Different strokes for different folks.

Anyhow, every non chicken owning visitor that comes to my house always gives the same reaction:
Oh arent they gorgeous, what type of chicken are they? Now if I had stock standard types they wouldnt have that reaction. But i also get a kick out of watching them out the back on the grass.
Well my girl's feet dont get dirty but if they did I would use my partner's exwife's toothbrush to clean them with.
Oh well Ive had my say, I guess you already know where my heart lies anyway but I had to go in to bat for my banties!!!





Windyridge wrote:
However, as she's grown, the little pouf of feathers on her head has gotten so thick that it's a wonder she can see at all. Hi windy, please just give her a haircut around her eyes. She wil still be nice and tame and will be so happy that she can see!!!!Mine get mohawks and look so cute!

 

[Windy Ridge]

LOL--I'll have to try that. I think I'll need an extra pair of hands, though, because sharp scissors near eyes plus little jerky bird head could equal disaster. Maybe I'll wait 'til hubby gets home.

I can understand the lack of appeal for some people... as I said, though, Sylvia just won me over.

 

[speckledhen]

It's amazing how actually having a certain breed you didn't think you'd particularly like can change your mind. I wasn't all that in love with birds with beards/muffs/blue eggs. Just didn't "float my boat". Well, after a friendly egg exchange with a friend of mine and raising some, I love my Ameraucanas!

 

[bantymum]

Hi Windy, yes get someone to hold her on their lap but first get a fabric dropsheet for them like a hairdresser and put the bantie on that. The tiny fluffy bits go everywhere, pick a calm day not windy!!
Get them to hold her head still whilst you gently snip away.
Start at the top of her head and work your way down toward her eyes as she will get skitty once she can see again and will see the scissors. Perhaps get childrens scissors for your first do. Have a soft wet cloth to wipe the fuzz away from her eyes if it gets in.
Good luck!! Ill put a pic in tommorrow Of how i do it!

 

[Davaroo]

None of that "openminded" oatmeal for me. If you like them, I wanna hear about that. Your choice, which I respect. Seems Silkies may have more going for them than I previously thought, although I still dont want any.

But, if you dont like them, I wanna hear about that, too. Again, your choice.

It's easy to preach to the choir. It's quite another matter to have the courage to state your views when they are against the tide. What's important is that no one gets bent out of joint over a little good natured ribbing or what others feel.

 

[Judymae]

I love silkies!!! We only have one and she is the cutest little thing I've ever seen. I want more!!! Maybe next spring. We have named our silkie Fluffy butt. She doesn't seem like the brightest chicken in the coop but she is the most loving. Not long ago she had a lump on her cheek. Everyday I would clean it and put some neosporin on it. She would just lay down on the towel and let me mess with it. No problem. To her she was getting more attention!

 

[Davaroo]

Allright, I admit, in that pic she looks almost interesting