Convince me i need silkies

[fluffycrow]

I have been interested in getting some silkies for some time now. Apart from their looks, there is one other thing I really like about them, well actually more like two. How docile they generally are, and their broodyness. I particularly want them so that I can place my aseel eggs/chicks that the aseel can't keep warm in their care, as they are excellent mothers, like the aseel. The other main reason I want them is so that I can mix them with my current birds to add a little more sustainability to them, and by that I mean going broody a little more often and also being accepting towards their flockmembers. I have some questions/requirements though. I free range my chickens, so it would be a plus if they were good at hiding from and detecting predators. Another question is how long does it take for them to mature. Anyways, anything you know about their temperament, care need etc is welcome

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh and in case I forget to ask later, do you think they are more cold hardy or hot hardy, or neither

 

[fluffycrow]

Ugh forgetful me forgot some more questions
1. Does their fluff of sorts need any care
2. How many eggs do they approximately lay
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 think that's all, for now at least

 

[CloneFly]

Well, I'm fairly new to silkies- mine being about 12wks. To my understanding, they're not the most reliable layers and tend to go broody quite often. The fluff does need tending (washing/or trimming to prevent smelliness/matting) They're super sweet though... and dumb. I see mine as the chihuahuas of my flock. I don't know how predator hardy they are either as mine are kept in the run. From what I can see though, they're not very perceptive, always getting "run over" by our gander. Theu do get along well with all the other hens though and seem to generally stay out of trouble. With all their faults, their sweetness and cuteness make up for it in my eyes. ☺

 

[Tabz]

I have been interested in getting some silkies for some time now. Apart from their looks, there is one other thing I really like about them, well actually more like two. How docile they generally are, and their broodyness. I particularly want them so that I can place my aseel eggs/chicks that the aseel can't keep warm in their care, as they are excellent mothers, like the aseel. The other main reason I want them is so that I can mix them with my current birds to add a little more sustainability to them, and by that I mean going broody a little more often and also being accepting towards their flockmembers. I have some questions/requirements though. I free range my chickens, so it would be a plus if they were good at hiding from and detecting predators. Another question is how long does it take for them to mature. Anyways, anything you know about their temperament, care need etc is welcome

They mature around 6 months and are very sweet and great laying eggs. I'm not sure about free range but mine are so sweet in a coop.

 

[fluffycrow]

Well, I'm fairly new to silkies- mine being about 12wks. To my understanding, they're not the most reliable layers and tend to go broody quite often. The fluff does need tending (washing/or trimming to prevent smelliness/matting) They're super sweet though... and dumb. I see mine as the chihuahuas of my flock. I don't know how predator hardy they are either as mine are kept in the run. From what I can see though, they're not very perceptive, always getting "run over" by our gander. Theu do get along well with all the other hens though and seem to generally stay out of trouble. With all their faults, their sweetness and cuteness make up for it in my eyes. ☺

Sweet is definitely something I want to add to my flock, but not in the sense that when attacked by other members they don't react though. I assume since they don't have normal feathering their flight skills are terrible. I don't really need them to keep guard, I just need them to respond to alarm calls made by the other chickens, if that makes sense

 

[CloneFly]

Sweet is definitely something I want to add to my flock, but not in the sense that when attacked by other members they don't react though. I assume since they don't have normal feathering their flight skills are terrible. I don't really need them to keep guard, I just need them to respond to alarm calls made by the other chickens, if that makes sense

My chickens actually leave them alone. My other 2 pullets of the same age and 2x the size get picked on relentlessly. Not sure if the chickens just can't decide what the slikies are. I once was holding my Orpington and silkie and I had brushed the fluff away from the silkie's eye; my Orpington looked super shocked. Her entire face was "DID YOU SEE THAT? THERE'S A CHICKEN IN THERE! I think... BUT YOU SAW THAT TOO RIGHT?"

I would assume they would respond to alarm calls, most chickens dobI believe. Then again, I've never free ranged my girls

 

[fluffycrow]

My chickens actually leave them alone. My other 2 pullets of the same age and 2x the size get picked on relentlessly. Not sure if the chickens just can't decide what the slikies are. I once was holding my Orpington and silkie and I had brushed the fluff away from the silkie's eye; my Orpington looked super shocked. Her entire face was "DID YOU SEE THAT? THERE'S A CHICKEN IN THERE! I think... BUT YOU SAW THAT TOO RIGHT?"

I would assume they would respond to alarm calls, most chickens dobI believe. Then again, I've never free ranged my girls

Ok that really good, it's definitely important for them not to get singled out, because my chickens are relentless if they get started. As long as they can respond to alarm calls, I'm happy, my chickens have been free ranging for years so they know what to look out for

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Silkies are a breed of their own, other chickens sometimes don’t recognize them as chickens! And about their health, it depends on which breeder you get, I was lucky and had a good strain, a bird of prey killed mine when she was 3, they need other Silkies to keep them company, I never did anything to their feathers ( I must add, I live in a very sunny and sandy place, so… no mud) she was broody very often, 10 egg, broody, 10 eggs, broody. One thing, they are usually not the sharpest knife in the chicken drawer, all other chickens understood they had to roost after 2 weeks, the Silky needed 2 months to get that they are very cute and friendly, sometimes too much, you have to watch out the other chickens aren’t mean to them

 

[fluffycrow]

Silkies are a breed of their own, other chickens sometimes don’t recognize them as chickens! And about their health, it depends on which breeder you get, I was lucky and had a good strain, a bird of prey killed mine when she was 3, they need other Silkies to keep them company, I never did anything to their feathers ( I must add, I live in a very sunny and sandy place, so… no mud) she was broody very often, 10 egg, broody, 10 eggs, broody. One thing, they are usually not the sharpest knife in the chicken drawer, all other chickens understood they had to roost after 2 weeks, the Silky needed 2 months to get that they are very cute and friendly, sometimes too much, you have to watch out the other chickens aren’t mean to them

Their broodyness is one of the main reasons I want them, but I might mix them with some of my chickens to produce a smaller sized bird, that has good feathering and becomes broody more often than my current girls. I also don't have a lot of mud on my property, but we do get snow during the late winter months that usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks. The temperature during the winter months is not too low, but during the summer it gets really warm. The other chickens being mean to them is my main concern though. As for free ranging, as I think I've mentioned before, as long as they hear alarm calls made by other chickens and hide, I'm happy