Convince me i need silkies

[Iluveggers]

Ok so after looking at my options, I've narrowed it down to two breeds, but first I'll say why I disqualified the others
1. Fayoumi: great free ranger, would be perfect but goes broody later than I'd like right now
2. Jersey Giants: don't go broody that often, plus they're a little too big
3. Sussex: doesn't go broody as often
4. Brahma: it's a gamble with them, and they're also on the bigger side
Now let's talk about the remaining breeds
1. Araucana: they are calm and non- aggressive, they are good free rangers, and as long as they're true araucanas they're also great broodies
2. Silkies: they are my second choice, since they're not the best at free ranging, but I can't get over their brooding ability

So with that in mind, I might be getting araucanas, or I might get silkies as well, we'll see
I will say, that if I find cochin eggs available, I will snatch that opportunity, but as of now, I haven't found any. Well, that was plan B
Now onto plan C
I'm sorry I've been so chaotic and potentially annoying in this thread, I just really want to make this work

Meyer sells Cochin eggs.

 

[Amer]

Meyer sells Cochin eggs.

OP is from Greece

 

[Iluveggers]

OP is from Greece

Ohhhh, sorry OP! Missed that!

 

[fluffycrow]

Ohhhh, sorry OP! Missed that!

No need to apologise, no harm done

 

[Yard Farmer]

They're friendly and fluffy! What more could you want?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Something that isn't so vulnerable so I can let them out in the morning and not worry about them. And a breed that is more productive laying big eggs.

 

[user605178]

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

6 to 8 months to start laying and if you go with a golden silkie it will be camouflaged for it will appear in Ariel view like a stand of aged grass

 

[user605178]

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

Silliest from. My experience are the best of mothers

 

[Jada22]

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

My silkie rooster is my favourite boy- very good with the hens- very protective, great predator detector, friendly.
Their fluff needs help if it gets muddy.
The egg laying at least from my lot is random some can be poor layers.
They are more heat hardy in my opinion- my girls coped fine during a heat wave but not so fine during a cold snap. In comparison to my other hens.
But they are great broodies, they’re very sweet and they are very funny!
They don’t pick fights but don’t necessarily just accept bullying either. Honestly my rooster usually gets involved in any arguments he just stands between whatever two are bickering and they cut it out (he’s awesome)
Some of them do take ages to sexually mature and it can be hard to sex them.
But overall they are one of my favourite breeds

 

[HennaB]

We have had 5 Silkie-x hens for 12 months now and they started laying at about 6 months some lay large eggs and some lay little cute eggs. They all get along most of the time but we have one special one that goes boody quite often so we decided to use this quality to hatch fertile eggs from our other breeds to increase numbers. From what we have observed they make great mums, funny and interesting to observe - time does go buy when doing this. We do keep them separate from the other chickens and roosters. Getting these first as our introduction to having chickens was the best thing as they are friendly and so far easy to k.

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