Convince me i need silkies

[fluffycrow]

Crazy birds.

Indeed they are!

 

[fluffycrow]

One other thing I will mention. If you do not currently have a bird with a crest they may get picked on and bullied because they look different.

Most of my hens, including my current (non aseel) rooster is crested, so that's not as much of a problem, although their crest are not that large

 

[fluffycrow]

I have one currently. I had to make a ladder for her to be able to get to the roost with with everyone else. They can’t fly and don’t jump very high. She’s not very smart. When she started laying she laid 2-3 eggs and went broody. They are goofey looking with their movements imo compared to other chickens. Their cheek and fluff from their head tends to block their vision so that needs to be constantly monitored and trimmed so they can see. I have noticed she’s a lot more prone to lice than my other girls.

Personally if broodiness and sweet was there main thing you were after I would look hard at Cochins. My Cochin has gone broody far more than my Silkie and isn’t as dumb.

I wonder if these traits are line dependent, so show lines focusing more on proper feathering and thus losing self preservation in the process

 

[Amer]

They are good mothers and broodies, though I don’t love their stupidity. If it were my way, I wouldn’t have them but my brother loves them as pets and I’ll admit they are very talented at hatching and raising d’Anvers and raising hatchery chicks.
I find at least part of their stupidity is due to their crests though, so hatchery birds are a little more functional than show quality birds and will roost since they can see better, though neither can fly.
1. Does their fluff of sorts need any care No
2. How many eggs do they approximately lay As much as the average chicken
3. This is kind of an odd one, but do you think that the roosters tend to be a little more respectful of their hens
I don’t know, if I had a rooster I would’ve butchered him by now! Because they are delicious. My brief experience with cockerels says they were kind of normal, before I butchered them or sold them to be butchered.
Silkies no how to go in and outside, but I wouldn’t say they are super predator aware. I haven’t lost any.
They are very hardy birds, as far as I can tell, the Wisconsin climate doesn’t phase them whether hot or cold.
They are kind of in their own little word and don’t interact with the flock at all unless they are broody.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

as they are excellent mothers

Not all of them. Of my 3 girls, 2 are amazing at raising chicks, and the 3rd is not great. She's very strict about how many she wants and will kick eggs out if they don't hatch in time (as in within that day, not the usual day and a half or 2 days most wait) and will up and leave chicks if she decides she's done being a mother, no matter their age.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

This is kind of an odd one, but do you think that the roosters tend to be a little more respectful of their hens

I've only ever had 3 males. 1 we put down due to health issues, but he seemed respectful to his two ladies. The other two definitely were respectful.

My male I have currently makes bricks look like Steven Hawkins (Hei-Hei had more brain cells than this one sometimes, I swear). But the females range from kinda dumb to rather smart.

 

[fluffycrow]

Not all of them. Of my 3 girls, 2 are amazing at raising chicks, and the 3rd is not great. She's very strict about how many she wants and will kick eggs out if they don't hatch in time (as in within that day, not the usual day and a half or 2 days most wait) and will up and leave chicks if she decides she's done being a mother, no matter their age.

Yes, obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, these are live animals so they won't all be/act the same

I've only ever had 3 males. 1 we put down due to health issues, but he seemed respectful to his two ladies. The other two definitely were respectful.

My male I have currently makes bricks look like Steven Hawkins (Hei-Hei had more brain cells than this one sometimes, I swear). But the females range from kinda dumb to rather smart.

Ok that's great, so the general consensus seems to be that non show silkies can be smart, and are generally hardy

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes, obviously, there are exceptions to every rule, these are live animals so they won't all be/act the same

Ok that's great, so the general consensus seems to be that non show silkies can be smart, and are generally hardy

Mine are definitely hardy. The only group of mine that didn't have a single issue during the week of hell a month ago. I've got a few that could probably hold their own in a show though that seem decent brainwise

 

[fluffycrow]

Mine are definitely hardy. The only group of mine that didn't have a single issue during the week of hell a month ago. I've got a few that could probably hold their own in a show though that seem decent brainwise

That's great to hear. Hardiness is something I want. I have been laughing at your comment for 5 minutes now. To be honest, smart is not something I'd say my current birds have. My rooster pecked a hen once, the hen jumped and the rooster got scared and made the whole flock worry. Another hen of mine got caught behind a door, as I opened it, and while she had space to leave, she remained there until I picked her up and took her outside. So really, my current flock isn't that bright, but they've been able to survive outside just fine, almost like every time they leave the coop they magically gain braincells. Even the oh so smart bunch of feathers my rooster is, he takes great care of his hens outside. So as long as silkies can respond to alarm calls, are hardy, and can brood, we can make it work

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's great to hear. Hardiness is something I want. I have been laughing at your comment for 5 minutes now. To be honest, smart is not something I'd say my current birds have. My rooster pecked a hen once, the hen jumped and the rooster got scared and made the whole flock worry. Another hen of mine got caught behind a door, as I opened it, and while she had space to leave, she remained there until I picked her up and took her outside. So really, my current flock isn't that bright, but they've been able to survive outside just fine, almost like every time they leave the coop they magically gain braincells. Even the oh so smart bunch of feathers my rooster is, he takes great care of his hens outside. So as long as silkies can respond to alarm calls, are hardy, and can brood, we can make it work

Haven't ever tested alarm calls with mine. They're always in a pen, so they have very few predators to worry about