Consolidated Kansas

[Hawkeye95]

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ChooksChick has some really pretty silkies! You can't buy little babies though- you'll have no idea what their gender is. You'll have to buy them around 4-6 months of age. Even the hatcheries can't sex silkies. Anyway, Danz has Polish, but they are the bantam. I wouldn't dare breed my own Polish- they are mixed and mottled, poor things! MyPetChicken swears they can sex them, but if you read on the baby board- they still wind up with about 50% males.

Well, I'm back! Had to run to town to get allergy shots for my oldest. I came back and all 3 of my silkies are one mass of fluff! They have huddled all together and now love each other I guess. That was fast. I don't even think there was any dispute at all-- except for the initial "attack" that Zorro did. I don't think my silkie pullet is laying yet, I believe she is only 4 months old. There were no eggs in her shipping box. But I can't wait till she does!

Maybe Yoda will decide to be a girl by that time, too.

 

[keckels]

I might have missed the post, but where did you get them. I have yet to see anything but pictures of Silkies.


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[Hawkeye95]

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These silkies, I just got from "Dylan's Silkies" in Virginia. She has a website and does exhibition. The silkies that I just posted pictures of, are the birds I just had shipped in and picked up today at the airport.

We're going to show them for our 4-H and possibly junior exhibitor shows. We also have 6 week old chicks that we got when they were two days old. They just look like miniature versions of their bigger selves right now. But they are pretty cute, too! When they go out into the coop tomorrow, I'll post pics of them! Maybe I can convince them to use the roost. They still like to huddle together on the floor for warmth at night.

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, those Silkies are so cute! I keep seeing pics of Silkies & it makes me want some. I'm afraid my bigger chickens would pick on them though & I don't have a coop to put them in separate right now, so I have to refrain from getting any. I really like the splash one. So you're about through with your coop then? That's great! The run won't be nearly so hard to build as the coop was, at least that's a consolation.

I brought my little Partridge Rock Rooster in tonight & soaked his foot & looked at it. I didn't see any cuts or swelling or anything, so I guess he must of just sprained it. I guess chickens can sprain their legs & feet too like other animals? He's been limping on it every since the other day when my Big Red rooster chased him up the hill. All I can figure is that he must of jumped off of a rock wrong or something like that. I have lots of rocks around here all over the place, so it wouldn't be hard to do. Anyway, he's starting to walk on it a little, but limps pretty badly. He's been staying closer to the coop since he hurt himself. He's about 17 wks now, but it seems like he's growing slow. I have read that the Partridge Rocks mature slower & he seems to be because he's not very big. I have two Partridge Rock hens that are finally starting to get some size on them at 20 weeks.

My Barred Rock hen laid the biggest egg today I've ever seen a chicken lay. She's been laying a bunch of double yokers lately, but this thing was the size of a goose egg, just huge. I can't even get the egg carton closed with it in there, poor hen.

Has anyone ever hung a suet cage in their run & put cabbage in it to give the chickens something to do? I bought one of the biggest suet cages & thought I would try hanging it in the run for while I'm gone over Thanksgiving so they could entertain themselves & get something green too. I have seen those chicken balls & have wondered about whether they really would pay attention to one. There is one that is yellow plastic & you put treats inside so they can roll it around & get them out. I think it would be fun to watch them try to get something out of it.

 

[sharol]

My poor head chook, a Golden Campine, is molting. Poor little thing looks even smaller with half her feathers gone. Tonight she was snuggled on the roost between two of my newer chickens. I feel so badly about her being cold. Awful timing, but I guess that's the way it works in the chicken world. They only have heat when it gets down to 20.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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Trish, a lot of people have silkies with their larger birds, but I think they have to integrated when they are young. The people on the silkie thread say that a nasty peck to the head can cause serious damage because they have unprotected vaulted skulls. My silkies will be so much bigger than my chicks, so I'm more worried about the silkies hurting my chicks! And they have two little silkies in with the chicks- and they don't pick on them. Actually, those silkie chicks are good about standing up for themselves. But I am hoping to have a silkie only pen this Spring. Sorry about your rooster, I don't have any idea what could have happened to his foot. I sure hope it's not broken and nothing too serious. Is it getting better with each day? I've seen people hang those suet cages and the ball cages to put cabbage in for their chickens. The coop pages show those in the runs, usually. I think it's a great idea, and fun for them all. I saw those at Atwoods, and I bet Walmart has them, too.

Sharol, why on earth do chickens molt now- when it's getting so darned cold!? You're right, that is craziness!! I hope the feathers start to come in quickly so you have a warm chicken again.

Well, we think we might have to move with this latest announcement from Boeing. They are shutting down Mission Planning in Wichita for sure. That is what Jon does- he is a Software engineer. There are no other software jobs here at Boeing- that was the biggest division. So, it looks like we'll be trying to get on down at OKC with their software programs (with Boeing). This royally sucks. I hope they change their mind, but it sounds like it might be a done deal. Sigh. If that happens, I wonder if I can chop my coop off at the legs and take it down on a flatbed where ever we go!

 

[Trish44]

Hawkeye, that really bites if you have to move. Darned Aircraft companies are always shutting something down or moving things. My hubby works at GE Engine Services at Strother Field & we never know what can happen since it's a small plant there. They have farmed out a lot of the engines to Brazil to a plant they opened there.

Everybody have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[Ivywoods]

OH NO!

Hawkeye, I hope you don't have to move!

What a bummer!

I hate moving.

Isn't your mom there in Wichita, too? What are the exterior dimensions of your coop? They move buildings all the time, but it isn't cheap.

If you can't move your coop, I hope you can find a place with poultry facilities already built.

Frankly, I hope you don't end up having to move.

I still have my silver duckwing old english pullet in the house. She talks to me when she sees me and is becoming quite a pet.

She is doing better, but is not quite completely over it. She still does that neck stretch and yawning motion they do when they are congested. I'm going to keep her on antibiotics for a while yet. I wanted to take her back outside today. It is so nice and sunny I thought it would be a good time to do it, but I guess I better wait.

Yesterday I went to put the lights and wiring in the stacking cages I built. As soon as I started I realized I was going to have to modify things a bit. The cages back up to my husband's goat pen in the barn, and if I put all the wiring out the back like I want, the goats will chew all the cords. I can't run them to the front because they will be in the way of the doors. It will be a simple fix to just put a couple sheets of plywood between the chicken pen and the goats, but I've got to buy or scrounge some plywood somewhere.

Anyone hear any news about Chicken Danz? I sure hope her surgery went well.

Maybe it won't be too long and she will feel like hoping on the computer and let us know everything is A-Okay. That was some pretty major surgery she was having.

 

[LN2008]

Quote:
ChooksChick has some really pretty silkies! You can't buy little babies though- you'll have no idea what their gender is. You'll have to buy them around 4-6 months of age. Even the hatcheries can't sex silkies. Anyway, Danz has Polish, but they are the bantam. I wouldn't dare breed my own Polish- they are mixed and mottled, poor things! MyPetChicken swears they can sex them, but if you read on the baby board- they still wind up with about 50% males.

Well, I'm back! Had to run to town to get allergy shots for my oldest. I came back and all 3 of my silkies are one mass of fluff! They have huddled all together and now love each other I guess. That was fast. I don't even think there was any dispute at all-- except for the initial "attack" that Zorro did. I don't think my silkie pullet is laying yet, I believe she is only 4 months old. There were no eggs in her shipping box. But I can't wait till she does!

Maybe Yoda will decide to be a girl by that time, too.

Thanks for the advice! I think I talked to Chooks about the whole silkie thing awhile back, but of course I can't remember. I'll do more research and what not. I can't wait to get more! This whole chicken thing is addicting.

 

[BamaProud]

I hope everyone is feeling a lot better. Welcome to all the new faces to the forum.

Ivywoods,you can buy raceways to protect the wires on the back of your cages. Just about anyone that sells electrical supplies carry them.

Canchaser,we need pictures of those cuties!!!!!!


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!!!!!!