Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

So - before I go and spend money on silkies - I just want to make sure it is ok and they are not fragile and will be ok with my flock and coop without heat - correct??? (This just goes against everything I've always heard and read.... ) These are what Miss R really wants - but she also doesn't have a lot of money and would be heart broken if they died in this cold.

Sounds like HeChicken is having MUCH better luck than I am this winter with my own silkies! LOL Mine are not faring so well in the cold! They are lifting their feet to warm one at a time and staying hunkered down near the heat lamps I have in the corners for them. Now, I will tell you that I bought some hatchery-quality silkies last year and had them over the winter last year and they did GREAT! Those hatchery quality silkies are nothing like my high quality ones. They are pretty durable birds. Maybe it helps that they don't have much of a crest and can see and can go ahead and even roost on the lower rungs and get around better than the better quality ones. Since it seems you are that odd 1% type of person, I'm guessing you'll wind up with the troubles I am having and need heat lamps for your silkies. My blood lines have all come from VERY nice breeders. I have been in contact with these breeders on my club forum page and they are all having the same troubles I am, but since they've done this for years, they have all their heaters all ready and already have great winter area's set up for their silkies. Maybe you need to find someone breeding the hatchery quality birds-- the really low end silkies and I bet they'd fare a LOT better in the cold. Or get them as chicks this Spring when they come in! I got rid of my hatchery quality silkies this last summer-- could have given them to you!

Sorry, it wouldn't let me see it.

I can only speak from my own limited experience. I got two from Hawkeye on Oct 1st, and I was concerned about them as we went into winter so have been keeping a close eye on them but so far, they are coping with the winter weather really well. However....having said that, it is good to look at all of your factors. Since silkies do not roost, they instead huddle on the floor in a corner of the coop to sleep. Mine were "raised" with a dozen chicks who are now part of their mini-flock, and those chicks are still inclined to sleep on the floor with the silkies at night (they can get on the roosts and do so during the day but when the older chickens get up on the roosts at night, the chicks who are now about 3-4 months of age get down and sleep in the corner with the silkies). That, plus the deep bed of straw, seems to be enough to keep the silkies warm. However even during the day I have never seen them shiver or look cold - they are out and about for at least some portion of every day, and that is entirely voluntary, since they could go back in the coop if they wanted to. I do not provide any heat, except a heated dog water bowl so that their water does not freeze.

What I really enjoy about the silkies is they come when I call them. My other chickens come running when they see me because I might have good treats for them, but the silkies, perhaps because they cannot see very well, stay wherever they are until they hear my voice. Then when I call "Where's my silkies? Come here silkies", they actually do respond to my voice and come over to my feet. They like to be picked up and loved on in a way that other chickens don't. Sometimes I will just find a place to sit, pull one on my lap and they settle down very happy to have the attention.

That is my favorite part about my silkies! They love me! I love how they don't run off and I can just pick one up. They will walk right up onto my shoes and I can pick them up and pet them, talk to them and set them down and grab another, repeat!

Hey-- question-- I got my silkies wormed on the Ivermectin Injectable for 2 days. Do I need to repeat in 10 days, or is this good enough and I can call it quits for a few months???

Mammahen that kitchen was just adorable. That is so cute and I would love to make something similar for my granddaughters if they had the room to have one. I may have to steal your idea and just make one for them to play with when they are here....(not very often). Looks like it was a total success. Also adorable little play your kids put on.

Well my olandsk cockerel died last night. I did start them all on denaguard yesterday; however and it may be wishful thinking, but it looks like the little pullet that was doing really bad yesterday is looking a little better today. The birds out in the coop seem to be doing better than these I brought in. I haven't lost any of those. They are still on duramycin but maybe getting out in the pen is beneficial to them....or they might just be stronger birds.
I lost one of my white orpingtons yesterday for no obvious reason. Just found it dead in the brooder. I'm not having the best of luck with those for sure.
I've got way too much money in them for the results I've had. I just hope I end up with at least a breeding trio so I can make some money back.
My old cat is still hanging in there. He ate a few bites yesterday. I wish I could find something that was good for him that he would eat. He is going to starve to death if the renal failure doesn't get him first.
I got a table I ordered for my Dad day before yesterday. So I met with my sister and we put it together. It was a cute little table and reasonably sturdy as well. So it took a couple hours to get ready to take it to him. He seemed really pleased. I also ended up with a car load of more of Mom's things. I haven't brought them in yet. It was so late and cold when I got home and I had to take care of the birds. My sister had gathered them for me. One thing I got that my sister was reluctant to give me was a Christmas tree skirt and stockings I bought for my Mom several years ago. It is just gorgeous. It's a deep red velvet and satin and has beautiful bead work on it and bead work fringe around it. When I bought it I was doing my Christmas tree in purple so it didn't go with that at all or I might have bought one for myself. I tend to do monochromatic decorations on my tree and am pretty anal about them being perfect. Since I bought a new couch I now have reddish tones in my room so the tree skirt will look lovely. I will just use it with like ornaments. I am excited to have it now that she is gone. It will always remind me of her.
I have a lot more craft items my sister drug out. I will have to go through those and decide what to keep.
I really do wish I had time to do crafts like I used to. I really enjoy it. Chickens? Crafts? Chickens? Crafts? Chickens!

I'm so sorry about your rooster!! So terrible, and you've just been dealing with loss after loss. I sure wish it would come to an end for you. The only thing I can think of, is that whatever you end up with in the end and makes it to maturity-- they will be stronger birds. So then breeder strong birds together is probably for the best anyway. But you sure hate to see them die like that. And your kitty--- gosh, it doesn't sound good. I sure hope he can hang in there and start eating for you. I'm glad you got the Christmas stuff back-- especially since YOU bought it for her to begin with. That was a no brainer that it should go back to you.


I'm feeling MUCH better today. Whew!! I've been cleaning like a mad woman, though. I have mopped and cleaned 2 bathrooms and have one more to go. I hate cleaning bathrooms, but when everyone has been so sick, this HAS to happen! I can't smell anymore more though, the clorox burned out my smeller.

But the two bathrooms are so clean, I'd feel comfortable sleeping on the floor or up next to the toilet if I had to. (if anyone else gets sick) Doing laundry as I speak and then need to head into the master bath. I hate cleaning it-- it's bigger so it's a real PITA than the others. Sigh.

I have a silkie I don't think is going to make it. It's one I've babied for a long time now. It's a little boy, and he's got Wry Back REALLY, REALLY bad. I was just going to keep him for as long as he lives, because I never thought he'd live this long. He has been very heathly, just has a very hard time getting around. The cold has been getting to him, and he looks like he is slowing down and looking kind of bad. Not sick--- just more messed up than usual. I feel bad for him, but if he makes it through this winter, I'll be surprised.

 

[HEChicken]

On the Ivermectin, the original page I read said you do NOT need to redose are 10-14 days like you do with other wormers. However it also said there is no egg withdrawal needed and Josie pointed out why that was bad advice so now I'm not sure how much of what that original woman said about it, to trust, you know? I mean, she was right about it being a great treatment for worms (I was seeing roundworms expelled in the poop of chickens prior to treatment and haven't seen a single one since, plus Ned was fading so fast and perked up immediately after the treatment), but I'm not sure how much she really understood about what she was doing. I did not do a second dose and as I said, haven't seen any signs they still have worms but....will admit I've been wondering whether I should do it proactively again sometime soon. Since it is supposed to stay in the water for 2-3 days, what worked for me before was to fill up my big 5-gallon waterer and when it was empty they were done. So I think I'll wait until we have several nights that are not going to be freezing and then do it, since I don't know what freezing would do to the Ivermectin.

Danz, so sorry about losing your Olandsk cockerel - I know how much you were wanting success with that breed. Hopefully the rest will be okay and you will have your breeding trio come spring. How is your kitty doing today?

I wonder how much of the silkies ability to tolerate cold stems from acclimatization. I.e., if they are used to having a heat lamp, they will feel cold if they don't have one but if they have acclimatized to NOT having it, they won't notice its absence? Our dogs live outside since we moved to the new place, but were indoor dogs at the old place. They have been outside since June so had several months to gradually get used to the colder weather. Since they are never indoors, they have grown nice thick coats, and really never seem cold outside. However if we had kept them indoors until last week and then suddenly expected them to go and live outside, they'd be miserable and freezing after being used to much warmer temps.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I've lost 2 pullets in 2 days - both during the day and both have head intact - only gut ripped out. Today, about 1pm, I found the 2nd one in the road with its belly ripped open, feathers everywhere for about 40 feet around... it was sad - she was still warm when I went to get her.

It sounds like a possum - but during broad daylight? What else could it be?

 

[medawinks]

Hmm.... Tapatalk wasn't working for BYC, but BYC now seems to have mobile pages yay!!!

Our silkies are just part of our crew. I don't provide heat.... But all the chooks come into a specially built coop on my sun porch which does provide good protection. I never close the door into it however. They snuggle with each other and a Salmon Favarolle which was brooded with one of them. We are quite partial to our Silkies here too. They add such a unique aspect to our little crew.
Try hatching a few with a docile breed of larger fowl? All of ours are pretty laid back. We don't have any production birds though.

Danz- :-( sorry about your roo!! I can't imagine how frustrating that would be to put so much money into those birds to struggle so keeping them healthy. I know I wouldn't be able to keep them alive and am grateful I can't afford them and that we enjoy the more native birds who can safely " drink the water" so to speak. If any one can keep them alive and help them thrive in later generations- it will be you!!

So sorry you are have predator probs Sunflower!

Maidenwolf, your chicks are so cute!!! I am fighting the urge to learn how to incubate... It sounds very addictive .

Glad you are on the mend Hawkeye! It sounds like the flu bug hit your house hard!

Karen, I love the pic of your Aloha! Our Speckled Sussex pullet isn't getting any spots....:-( she is so sweet though that it more than makes up for it though.

BTW, several of you have mentioned using essential oils. Do any of you have any experience with Thieves oil or Valor essential oil blend? I can't seem to find either of them in Lawrence. My son likes the smell of Lavender and patchouli and finds it comforting. Someone recommended these two blends for him for ADD and anxiety and.... I am going to have to resort to buying them online I guess, without him being able to smell them first:-(

I my try the Thieves first since maybe it will help keep my youngest well this month before her next scheduled surgery.

Oh, and is it possible for a rooster to learn not to crow? I had been bringing our Silkie rooster inside early in the am before he would crow. Now... He has stopped! He seems healthy. Could he have figured out that was why he was being separated? I didn't believe that was possible.....

 

[Hawkeye95]

On the Ivermectin, the original page I read said you do NOT need to redose are 10-14 days like you do with other wormers. However it also said there is no egg withdrawal needed and Josie pointed out why that was bad advice so now I'm not sure how much of what that original woman said about it, to trust, you know? I mean, she was right about it being a great treatment for worms (I was seeing roundworms expelled in the poop of chickens prior to treatment and haven't seen a single one since, plus Ned was fading so fast and perked up immediately after the treatment), but I'm not sure how much she really understood about what she was doing. I did not do a second dose and as I said, haven't seen any signs they still have worms but....will admit I've been wondering whether I should do it proactively again sometime soon. Since it is supposed to stay in the water for 2-3 days, what worked for me before was to fill up my big 5-gallon waterer and when it was empty they were done. So I think I'll wait until we have several nights that are not going to be freezing and then do it, since I don't know what freezing would do to the Ivermectin.

Danz, so sorry about losing your Olandsk cockerel - I know how much you were wanting success with that breed. Hopefully the rest will be okay and you will have your breeding trio come spring. How is your kitty doing today?

I wonder how much of the silkies ability to tolerate cold stems from acclimatization. I.e., if they are used to having a heat lamp, they will feel cold if they don't have one but if they have acclimatized to NOT having it, they won't notice its absence? Our dogs live outside since we moved to the new place, but were indoor dogs at the old place. They have been outside since June so had several months to gradually get used to the colder weather. Since they are never indoors, they have grown nice thick coats, and really never seem cold outside. However if we had kept them indoors until last week and then suddenly expected them to go and live outside, they'd be miserable and freezing after being used to much warmer temps.

Perhaps they were acclimated, good point. I did not add the heat lamps until after they showed signs of being very cold-- shivering and lifting feet. THEN I added heat. So I did try to wait it out and was hoping I would not have to use heat lamps this winter. But I also think because they are in a more windy spot that it doesn't help. We have no wind breaks out here. They are wrapped in plastic, so the wind have been taken off of them, and I thought that would be enough. The other silkie peeps have outdoor pens like mine and have theirs wrapped in plastic too-- and are working out with heat lamps well. But they are further up North and they have had birds freeze overnight, I've been reading horror stories about once a week from my silkie board.

Glad you are on the mend Hawkeye! It sounds like the flu bug hit your house hard!
Karen, I love the pic of your Aloha! Our Speckled Sussex pullet isn't getting any spots....:-( she is so sweet though that it more than makes up for it though.
BTW, several of you have mentioned using essential oils. Do any of you have any experience with Thieves oil or Valor essential oil blend? I can't seem to find either of them in Lawrence. My son likes the smell of Lavender and patchouli and finds it comforting. Someone recommended these two blends for him for ADD and anxiety and.... I am going to have to resort to buying them online I guess, without him being able to smell them first:-(

I my try the Thieves first since maybe it will help keep my youngest well this month before her next scheduled surgery.
Oh, and is it possible for a rooster to learn not to crow? I had been bringing our Silkie rooster inside early in the am before he would crow. Now... He has stopped! He seems healthy. Could he have figured out that was why he was being separated? I didn't believe that was possible.....

Thanks, I am feeling better today. Do you have a Whole Foods up there? We have an awesome store here called Food For Thought and they have an entire wall of essential oils-- the GOOD stuff and that is where I buy all of mine. They let you sample everything first, too. They also have a couple of large books on what each oil does and how to combine it, use it and what it's good for. So when you come in with a specific request, they can mix something up for you, or they can figure out which oil you need or just help you in finding the one you came in for.



I had a couple of interesting pictures I took today. The first one is of my crazy 2 year old bird MOLTING in winter!?!? It's insane!! I am almost too embarassed to post this picture, because she looks down right ugly here and doesn't even look like a silkie! She has no more crest and no more tail! A few weeks ago she was fluffy and beautiful. She is either bald in spots or has little pin feathers coming in. This poor bird looks mangy!!
(click to enlarge)




This one is cute-- the girls were all dug down keeping warm in the bedding.

 

[sunflowerparrot]

I'm now rethinking after reading and think it may be hawks - the chickens had feathers all over an open area and the body was out in the open in the road.. I would think a possum wouldn't drag the body out to an open area like that - and being in the day time. I have caught hawks in the past trying to get my chickens - but they were able to find cover.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I'm now rethinking after reading and think it may be hawks - the chickens had feathers all over an open area and the body was out in the open in the road.. I would think a possum wouldn't drag the body out to an open area like that - and being in the day time. I have caught hawks in the past trying to get my chickens - but they were able to find cover.

Yep sounds like hawks alright. Oh I am so sorry. This is the worst time of year for hawks

 

[sunflowerparrot]

Yep sounds like hawks alright. Oh I am so sorry. This is the worst time of year for hawks

I'm actually a little relieved to know it is a hawk rather than a possum (just doesn't seen possible to be a possum over a hawk with it so out in the open and feathers strewn about the field..) Something about a possum lurking around seemed more frightening - but - 2 chickens in 2 days... ?? Still think it's a hawk?

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I'm actually a little relieved to know it is a hawk rather than a possum (just doesn't seen possible to be a possum over a hawk with it so out in the open and feathers strewn about the field..) Something about a possum lurking around seemed more frightening - but - 2 chickens in 2 days... ?? Still think it's a hawk?

Yes, once a hawk finds a food source it will continue to come back day after day

 

[chicken danz]

I would have thought a hawk would behead a bird and fly off with it to eat it. I've never had one be successful around here cause my dogs keep them at bay.
Well I am disappointed. I had gone out earlier and the house with the Swedish and the d'uccle's seemed to be doing better. I went out about 30 minutes ago and they are all sneezing and wheezing again. I had just put duramycin in their water. The olandsk seem so much better I am going to switch the others to denaguard tomorrow as well. I probably should do it tonight but I already have the hose blown out and everyone shut up for the night.
I tried the FF on the brooder today and no one seemed interested in it. About the only place I got a really good response was the peacock pen. They seemed to like it. I just put a little here and there to see if any of the birds wanted it. I'll check tomorrow to see if it was a total waste or not. I have got to do some more research on this. That was a total mess to deal with. I had just mopped the back hallway and now have a mess of spilled grain stuff there.
I've been giving a couple of upside down birds some vitamins to see if I could get them back on their feet. There was one I was sure would have died by now and she is standing up and holding her head up again. I've been trying to search for liquid thiamine but it is hard to find alone without the other B vitamins. I might try to grind some lentils since they are high in thiamine and see how the birds do on that.
I am just very confused that professionally prepared chick starter doesn't seem to contain what the birds need. Vitamin E has always be my go to viatmin but in some of these cases it just isn't doing the trick.
I keep telling myself that only the heartiest birds are the ones that I want anyway but I have lost too many. I am very concerned that these darn high dollar birds are weak from the breeding or from being imported. I need to breed healthy stock or it is a waste of time and money. I'm hoping I can breed in some better traits with time. Also I know I can feed them a healthy diet to lay with which will help make stronger chicks. Hatching other's birds I never know they care they received before laying.